Ain't That A Shame was trained by Henry de Bromhead. It won the tough Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park, delivering on its long-awaited potential. The horse had good placements in last season's Munster National and Paddy Power Chase. But, it finished last among 17 at the Grand National at Aintree. This was followed by underwhelming performances in the Kerry National and a withdrawal in the Troytown at Navan.
However, Ain't That A Shame, ridden by Rachael Blackmore and priced at 14-1, made a significant comeback in a remarkable turnaround. Initially keeping a mid-field position, the horse moved up as the race progressed. In a thrilling home stretch, Ain't That A Shame briefly lost the lead to Glengouly. But, it reclaimed the lead to win by two and a half lengths. This win gave it a big part of the €100,000 prize.
De Bromhead praised Blackmore's decision to stick with Ain't That A Shame, influenced by assistant trainer Davey Roche. Despite initial doubts due to the horse's inconsistent form, the victory was a delightful surprise for the team. De Bromhead also enjoyed winning a race with significant family and regional importance.
In related news from Gowran Park, Monkfish, trained by Willie Mullins, made a compelling return. He won the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle, marking his entry into the Stayers' Hurdle scene. Monkfish, once a rising star with three Grade One wins, had faced setbacks, including a defeat at Punchestown and a two-year absence. Nonetheless, Paul Townend was the jockey. With him, Monkfish showed resilience and won the race easily. This performance drastically shortens his odds for the Stayers' Hurdle, though the team remains open to race options.