Declan Queally, an amateur jockey enjoying a remarkable run of success, is targeting another victory with Carrigmoornaspruce in next Sunday’s Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival. The five-year-old mare, trained by Queally’s father, Declan Snr, will compete for the lucrative €100,000 prize following back-to-back wins at Naas and Leopardstown.

“She’s definitely heading to the Dublin Racing Festival,” Queally Jnr confirmed. “We worked her during the week, and I’m very happy with where she’s at. It’s all systems go.”

After a decisive victory at Leopardstown in December, Queally believes Carrigmoornaspruce has stepped up her performance. “She’s improved again. Leopardstown was her big target after Naas, but she was probably only at 80 per cent then. We’ve fine-tuned her preparation for Sunday and are hopeful she’ll peak on the day.”

Carrigmoornaspruce is currently priced at 33-1 for the Champion Bumper, but the Queally yard is buzzing with Cheltenham hopes, buoyed by Rocky’s Diamond’s gritty win in the Galmoy Hurdle, setting him up as a Stayers’ Hurdle contender.

Adding to the yard’s stellar week, Carrigmoorna Beech, a half-sister to Carrigmoornaspruce, claimed victory in the concluding bumper at Gowran Park under Queally Jnr. “It was a dream day,” he said. “Carrigmoorna Beech has a phenomenal pedigree and looks like a three-mile type for the future. We might aim her at the Listed bumper in Limerick after Cheltenham.”

The yard’s purple patch continued over the weekend when I’ll Sort That landed another bumper win at Fairyhouse, extending Queally’s streak to four consecutive victories. Their immediate focus now shifts to Limerick on Tuesday, where Queen’s Meadow lines up in the 2m maiden hurdle.

With confidence running high and the team in top form, the Queally family heads to Leopardstown aiming to extend their remarkable run at one of the biggest stages in Irish racing.