Trainer Paul Traynor secured a notable victory at Down Royal when Staton, a 100-1 shot owned by Karen McNeilly, won the concluding bumper by 12 lengths under jockey Anna McGuinness.
The Bottom Line
- The Performance: Staton powered clear to win the Down Royal bumper by 12 lengths at 100-1 odds.
- The Background: The five-year-old gelding has been in Traynor’s stable since he was a foal.
- The Milestone: This follows Traynor’s previous success against Willie Mullins’ runner Lultimatom at Kilbeggan in April.
Traynor Reflects on an Unlikely 12-Length Margin
Staton spent Saturday morning in a Templepatrick field before making the 20-minute journey to Down Royal, delivering a performance that trainer Paul Traynor admitted he has watched back ten times. Despite arriving at the fixture following two well-beaten efforts over hurdles and a third-place finish in a Tyrella point-to-point, the five-year-old swept past the opposition under Anna McGuinness.
“It’s unbelievable. It meant a lot,” Traynor told the Racing Post. “For me and my partner Karen, we treat them all the same. I’ve had him since he was a foal.”
Traynor indicated that tactical withdrawals influenced his pre-race expectations. “When the Gordon Elliott horse Uncle Pad was pulled out, I thought we’d every chance of a big race,” he explained. The trainer also noted the simplicity of handling the gelding at home. “I’m the only person who ever sits on him. He’s always given me a good feel, and I said to Anna, ‘If I could do the weight I would love to be riding this lad.'”
Building on Previous Success Against Powerful Opposition
This victory adds to Traynor’s growing record of competitive results against larger training yards. In April, the small-scale operation scored a notable win at Kilbeggan when Kershaw defeated Lultimatom, a runner trained by Willie Mullins.
“I beat Willie Mullins for the first time in a bumper back in April and it meant the world to me,” Traynor said. “To do it again meant a lot, especially in the fashion he did it.”
| Date | Trainer | Horse | Race Type | Venue | Notable Opponent / Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | Paul Traynor | Kershaw | Bumper | Kilbeggan | Defeated Willie Mullins’ Lultimatom |
| November 1 | Paul Traynor | Staton | Bumper | Down Royal | Won by 12 lengths at 100-1 |
