Quinn primes Irish raiding party
Smart mare Cockney Sparrow and talented juvenile Rutherglen are among a small team of horses trainer John Quinn is preparing for an assault on the major Festivals at Fairyhouse and Punchestown this spring.
Cockney Sparrow was runner-up behind My Tent Or Yours in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle earlier this season and was last seen finishing a creditable fifth to Quevega in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Quinn is now targeting Punchestown’s Grade One Irish Thoroughbred Association Fillies Scheme EBF Mares Hurdle.
Quinn said: “She (Cockney Sparrow) seems fine since the race and we were happy with how she ran.
“She was only beaten a short head to fourth and might have finished third if she hadn’t been hampered. We’re happy she got the trip all right and the plan now is to run in the Graded mares’ race at Punchestown over two miles and two (furlongs).”
Rutherglen and stable companion Pearl Castle finished fifth and seventh respectively in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. Rutherglen is due to be in action at Fairyhouse’s upcoming Easter meeting, while Pearl Castle could run at Aintree or Punchestown, or miss both to run on the Flat.
“Rutherglen ran a solid race and we’re looking at running him in a Grade Three race in Fairyhouse on Easter Monday,” said Quinn.
“I need to speak to the owner about Pearl Castle. He’ll probably get an entry at Aintree, he could go to Punchestown, or we could just leave him off and wait to run him on the Flat.
“He’s only a four-year-old, so I’m in no great rush with him.”
Potentially joining Rutherglen on the trip to Fairyhouse could be Aurore D’Estruval.
The four-year-old filly missed Cheltenham, but could step up to Grade One level in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders’ Fund Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final on April 6.
Quinn said: “We’ll certainly look at the Fairyhouse race for her and she’ll also get entries at Aintree I would imagine.”
