Redemption day for Galway jockey and Cue Card

PADDY Brennan has been a tormented soul since last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. He had just moved the hugely popular Cue Card to challenge Don Cossack and Djakadam when they agonisingly parted company at the third last fence in the festival’s flagship race.

The groans which went up from the packed grandstands told their own story. Brennan and Cue Card had carried the hopes and dreams of the UK racing fraternity after an unbeaten alliance this season which had seen them already plunder the Charlie Hall at Wetherby; the Betfair Chasse at Haydock; and most notably of all; the King George at Kempton.

Previously twice a winner at the Cheltenham festival, Cue Card had put a poor campaign the previous season behind him after a wind operation, while a move of yard by trainer Colin Tizzard was also believed to have been a factor in the horse’s rejuvenation.

Cue Card had every chance when coming to grief at Cheltenham after Brennan had asked him for a big one at the fence at the bottom of the hill. It was hard to blame the Galway jockey as his mount was tanking along, but Brennan took it badly, believing he should have been less brave just as the Gold Cup was reaching its critical phase.

The Ardarhan native bared his soul on Channel Four last Thursday on the morning of the Betfred Bowl, the feature race on the opening day of the Aintree festival. He was unnecessarily hard on himself, but Brennan doesn’t do half measures. He was desperate for redemption and Liverpool was his chance.

Brennan, who rode Imperial Commander to Gold Cup glory in 2010,  had taken over the ride on Cue Card at the the start of the season, and their exploits together had also revived his own career in the saddle after a couple of relative lean years.

The Betfred Bowl is also a Grade One and though Cue Card would be renewing rivalry with Gold Cup second Djakadam, the race could hardly have gone any better for Brennan’s mount which was always travelling well and justified his 6/5 favourite status with a nine length win from Don Poli as a battle weary Djakadam trailed in third.

Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.