Kilmaley’s Brian McMahon recorded his first double in Navan on Sunday with his horse, Se Mo Laoch also earning a spot in Cheltenham.
His 149-1 double has been described as “a fairytale” outing. Fourteen year old Seskinane belied his age to take the navanadventurecentre.ie Handicap Hurdle by four and three-quarter lengths under Phillip Enright.
Eoin Mahon was in the saddle as Se Mo Laoch (9-1) led on the run-in to beat long-time leader Wishmoor by four lengths in the Come Racing Handicap Chase. Se Mo Laoch’s victory secured a place in Cheltenham’s Kim Muir.
Seskinane’s success was a true family affair for McMahon. He was Brian’s first horse and was purchased by his late father Eugene while his four nephews, Liam, Eoin, Tadhg and Daithí also have a special relationship with the fourteen year old. “He is the favourite, he was the first horse I had, my dad bought him, he passed away shortly after getting him, he has been a legend for me and for all my family. Often I’d have my four nephews sat one behind each other on his back walking along the yard, that is the kind of gent he is and put the tack on him and he’s up on his back legs”.
Around Christmas time, Brian purchased a new yard which is just over the Galway border by Tubber. The move has proved to be lucky so far, “It is fitting that Seskinane was the first winner for me out of the new yard, he was the first horse I got when I started five years ago. My late dad bought him, he was the apple of his eye, it is very fitting that he came up trumps for me at fourteen”.
“Two or three winners a year would be the height of it usually so two in a day is beyond belief,” McMahon who has eight horses in training added. “They’re twenty three years of age between the two of them, I had this fella since I got him as a three year old, they are in the stables next to each other at home, between the two of those and Powersbomb they are the favourites in the yard”.
A research and development biochemist by profession, Brian began his career in racing when riding out for trainer Donie Hassett. He gained further experience working with Nicky Henderson for two years at a time when Binocular, Bobs Worth, Long Run, Punchestowns and Sprintre Sacre were among the stable stars.
Brian returned home and began training in 2013 and enjoyed his first winner when the Derek O’Connor-ridden Powersbomb won a bumper at Sligo in July of the following year. The same horse was a winner under Mikey Fogarty at the Galway Festival in 2015 and was a four-time winner in all for the stable.
