Trainer Profile

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Sandra took over her father Dessie's trainers’ licence in the days following his death in November 2014 and wasted little time in getting among the winners. She saddled Lieutenant Colonel to win the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse within a fortnight of acquiring her licence and the same horse went on to win the Grade 1 Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown that December. Another notable early success came Sandra's way when Sub Lieutenant won the Grade 2 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles in February of 2015. Sub Lieutenant had been Sandra's first winner with a licence when taking a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on November 29th, 2014. Better was to come as she trained Thunder And Roses, ridden by Katie Walsh, to win the BoyleSports Irish Grand National in April, 2015. Sandra also enjoyed notable success with the likes of Acapella Bourgeois, Total Recall, Canaly and Nearly Nama'd. On the opening day of the Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown on April 25th 2017, Sandra announced what she was to retire from the training ranks, saying, "I'm in no way negative about this. This is my decision and I'm very happy with it. It's a numbers game. When you fall below a certain amount (of horses), it's tough and that's the problem." Sandra had her final runners as a trainer at Down Royal on Friday, May 26th, 2017. Her final winner had come at the same track on May 1st, 2017 when the Denis O'Regan-ridden Art Of Payroll had won the Magners Irish Cider Beginners Chase. In all, Sandra was responsible for 38 winners during her time as a trainer.