Galway jockey Cawley steers The Shunter to crack at big Cheltenham bonus
A cross-channel based Galway jockey has played a central role in an Irish trained horse being in line for a £100,000 sterling bonus at next week’s Cheltenham National Hunt Festival.
For Alain ‘Squeaky’ Cawley was in the plate when Irish raider The Shunter toughed it out to land the featured Morebattle Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday.
Not alone did connections pick up nearly £47,000 for their successful Scottish raid, but The Shunter now has a six-figure bonus in his sights if following up in the Cotswolds.
And there are no shortage of options for the versatile eight-year-old at Cheltenham as The Shunter – already a winner at the track this season when taking the Greatwood Hurdle – has five entries at the festival.
The most likely target is the County Hurdle on the closing day of Cheltenham which would give the Emmet Mullins trained charge extra time to recover from his Kelso exertions.
Craughwell native Cawley, who won Grades Ones with Joncol (twice) and Shinrock Paddy when based in Ireland, had to work hard in getting the 5/2 favourite on terms with Faivoir before withholding the late challenge of Night Edition.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.