Wee Tiger scores for Hackett at Limerick

Ray Hackett gets a great tune out of the mainly family owned horses that he trains at his base near Toomevara and he was on the mark again at Limerick on Saturday when Wee Tiger landed the two mile and six 85-108 handicap hurdle for amateur riders.

Having finished third over three miles at the venue a week earlier, the Graigsteel gelding was strongly fancied to deliver over this shorter trip and the confidence was certainly not misplaced. With Eoin O'Brien, who has a fine strike rate for the stable in the saddle, Wee Tiger set off in front and although joined briefly after a mile or so soon asserted again before responding well to the urgings of O'Brien from the second last to land the spoils by two and a half lengths from Directional, with the heavily supported Viking Hoard just a head further in areers in third place.

This was a thoroughly game display by the winner and a fine piece of riding by O'Brien whose 7lb claim was a crucial factor in the victory. In his post race remarks, Ray Hackett gave plenty of praise to his staff who helped the horse settle as he was a bad traveller. He has a very competitive mark over fences and he could well go down that route for his next outing.

 

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