Paddy Brennan buoyed by victory of Leloopa at Kelso

Paddy Brennan enjoyed many good days during his time in the saddle – but few wins will have given him as much delight as that of Leloopa’s surprise victory in the £100,000 Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Kelso.

Since retirement Brennan has set up a racing syndicate like his fellow weighing-room colleagues Noel Fehily and Richard Johnson.

Not surprisingly Brennan sent his first horse to his old ally Fergal O’Brien, although the diminutive mare looked the second-string with the Harry Redknapp-owned Northern Air in the race.

However, Tom Broughton, who was claiming 5lb, always looked comfortable on Leloopa, who cruised into contention on the home bend.

The 22-1 chance breezed eight lengths clear in the long home straight, with Sunset Hill second.

“There was big pressure on that race, we’d planned this for such a long time,” said Brennan.

“I’m not a betting man, but at 50-1 even I had a bet on her. At Ludlow she needed the run, we knew she’d improve from that and big thanks to Fergal and his team, they produced her unbelievable today.

“When you walk out of the weighing room as a jockey you get that buzz today, it’s unbelievable.

“Fergal has a great bunch of jockeys, but if I had Kauto Star I’d let Tom Broughton ride him, he’s that good. The young lads don’t get the chances anymore because there’s less trainers and less horses.

“You get the bigger trainers getting bigger and unfortunately we’re losing too many of the smaller trainers, hopefully my job is to support them.”

Broughton told ITV Racing: “She’s small, but she’s mighty! She was so straightforward there. She kept finding when I asked and she’s gone away really nicely.

“All you can ask is to have connections and owners that believe in you, Paddy doesn’t complicate it, he just said to go out and enjoy it and look what happens.

“The boss will be happy, he knew we had two good chances.”