CONDITIONAL jockey Michael O’Connell yesterday enjoyed a change of fortune when least expected as he got back among the winners on Presque Perdre in the featured Subscribe On Line At racinguk.com Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.
The 7-1 chance was soon sent to the front by O’Connell and when it came to the business end he had a tremendous struggle with Border Tale, with the judge having to call on the photograph to separate them. To the surprise of many, George Moore’s charge got the verdict by a short head and O’Connell said: “I must admit I thought we had been mugged on the line, but my fellow is so tough.
“I needed that. I have been having plenty of rides and placed horses, but it is a long time since I had had a winner so it is a big relief.”
However, there was a sting in the tale as he picked up a suspension for one day (November 11) for using his whip with excessive frequency.
Brian Hughes rode Border Tale and he said: “We pinged the last and I thought we had got up, it must have been on the nod.”
The runner-up’s trainer James Moffatt said: “I just can’t get off the mark, he has run a great race but I can’t believe we have been beaten by a short head.”
