WHILE some trainers can be excused of not giving female jockeys a chance that accusation cannot be made of Liam Lennon who is a real ladies’ man.

Last Saturday was the most recent case in point as he entered Presenting Julio in the ladies riders’ handicap hurdle at Stratford.

“I saw Lisa O’Neill was going over to ride something (Shan Dun nan Gall) for Gordon in the seller so I jumped at the chance of asking her to ride for me as well as she has ridden a point-to-point winner for the yard in the past. The fact that both horses won was brilliant for her.

“I only have Presenting Julio for a couple of months and this was just his second outing for me. I wouldn’t have him at all if it wasn’t for my father Dinny who had followed him on the all-weather at Dundalk over the winter and advised me to buy him when he heard he was for sale.”

As he’s still recovering from a hip operation, Dinny (another ladies’ man!) wasn’t able to go to Stratford but hopefully he’ll make the Festival at Down Royal where the horse runs next. Presenting Julio, one of 16 horses riding out at Lennon’s Newry yard, was bred by Seamus McKeogh out of the unraced Definite Article mare Ouro Preto, a half-sister to Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi.

The mare’s 2015 filly (by Shirocco) is being consigned by Baroda & Colbinstown Studs as Lot 124 at Tattersalls next month.