Image © Healy Racing
Rocky’s Howya, who finished fourth in the 2023 renewal of the Cheltenham Foxhunters, began his preparation when finishing second on his reappearance in a Ladies Open at Moig South in November after a 560-day absence, the nine-year-old son of Ask made Winged Leader work hard for victory, although a bad blunder at the final fence somewhat hindered the efforts of his challenge under Emily Cody.
“He had a little setback which is why he hadn’t ran since May 2024, but he ran a blinder at Moig South and I think he may have won that race had he not made a mistake. He was unlucky to be beaten”. Reported Queally.
Ray Barron was aboard Rocky’s Howya when sent off the evens favourite for the Masterchef 2025 Maiden Hunter Chase at Limerick over the Christmas period and despite making virtually all the running until headed at the second last obstacle, he could only manage fourth place behind the Terence O’Brien-trained Con’s Roc.
“I wasn’t too disappointed with his run in Limerick, the trip was probably a bit sharp for him. Then there was a false start and he went off out the front then had to come back. It was very messy”. Queally said.
“He’s a funny horse and probably thought the race was over. Ray Barron who was riding him didn’t know him that well. He’s an old horse and a very clever horse and thinks a little about things”.
“He came home out of the race grand and was probably a good bit fitter going into Cragmore last week”. Added Queally.
The Margaret Kiely-owned Rocky’s Howya reversed that Limerick form with Con’s Roc when landing the Open at Cragmore last weekend under the trainer’s son and namesake Declan.
“We were confident of a good run in Cragmore, we wouldn’t have ran otherwise. He was supposed to run in Dungarvan and one of the young lads in the yard, Cathal Sheehan was supposed to ride him. We were disappointed that Dungarvan was called off for the sake of Cathal”.
“We don’t have a lot of point-to-pointers anymore so the opportunities are limited enough for our young lads. We have another young lad in the yard Conor Reddy who has been unlucky on couple of spins on a mare Yorkshire Escape. We have to stick with them. At the end of the day, those lads are in the yard early in the morning and back again in the evenings so you have to stick with them and give them opportunities where we can”
“If Rocky’s Howya does get to Cheltenham, Dec will be riding him, so he rode him at Cragmore as he wanted to have a spin on him before Cheltenham”.
Queally who trains around 40 horses at his Cappagh base in Dungarvan, County Waterford has been having successful period of form lately with I’ll Sort That taking the bumper in Fairyhouse on January 25th and a double at Gowran Park on Thyestes Day two days previously with Carrigmoorna Beech winning the bumper and Rocky’s Diamond impressively winning the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle in the same colours of Rocky’s Howya’s owner Margaret Kiely.
According to Queally, Rocky’s Howya won’t run again before Cheltenham.
“There’s nothing in concrete as you never know what will happen down the road but so far so good, Cheltenham is what we are aiming for. Rocky’s Howya’s owners enjoy going to England for football matches and they’ll have scarves and hats made for Cheltenham, they’re not in it to make money, they are purely in it for the fun”.
Queally is hoping to continue his good run of form and has five runners declared at Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend with ex-pointers Mozzies Sister among the declared runners for the opening Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy Solicitors Novice Hurdle and Custom Taylor declared for the four-year-old Handicap Hurdle on Saturday.
“The horses are going well at the moment and we have a big weekend coming up. We’re hoping that we can continue the good run”.
