THERE were some early classic clues at Dundalk last Friday night when 2,000 Guineas entry A Case Of You impressed on his first outing for Ado McGuinness.
Last season’s Anglesey Stakes winner for John McConnell, he carried the colours of Gary Devlin in the six-furlong conditions race and went to post a 10/11 favourite on his return.
Ronan Whelan gave the son of Hot Streak a confident ride, producing him to lead over a furlong out before kicking clear for a three-and-three-quarter-length win over Logo Hunter.
McGuinness is eyeing big prizes with his new addition and said: “He’ll go for a Guineas trial at Leopardstown now and has an entry in the English and the German Guineas, so he has a lot of options.
“I think he will get the seven in the Guineas trial no problem and we’ll see where we go from there.”
On the bounce
The progressive Alhaazm made it three on the bounce at the venue when making a winning return in the mile handicap.
Chris Hayes produced the 100/30 shot to lead passing the furlong pole and the Kevin Prendergast-trained gelding went on to post a one-and-three-quarter-length success over Leadership Race.
The winner is a full-brother to the yard’s Irish 2000 Guineas winner Awtaad and Hayes said afterwards: “ He has just really settled into the boss’s way of training and it seems to have improved him.”
Alhaazm is thought to have been the final winner for owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, whose death was reported this week,
Tooreen Angel was another to strike again on the Polytrack when lunging late to land the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap under Mark Enright.
The Fozzy Stack-trained filly followed up her course-and-distance maiden win by pipping Bring Us Paradise near the line for a head victory.
“You wouldn’t want to be getting there too soon with her so it was ideal. Hopefully, she’ll win another one,” said the winning rider.
Gormanstown bounces back
GORMANSTOWN also recorded his second win of the winter campaign when running out a convincing winner of the seven-furlong handicap.
Nigel Slevin’s charge was dropping back in trip but travelled well to lead two furlongs out and stayed on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-half win under Robbie Colgan.
“We put in a swimming pool at home and he has really benefitted as he’s quite a stuffy horse. He takes plenty of work in the pool and it’s much easier on him,” revealed the Enfield handler.
Another horse that has benefitted from dropping in trip is Poet’s Pride, who landed the opening five-furlong handicap for David Marnane.
Billy Lee led over a furlong out on the Arcano gelding as the 11/4 favourite posted a one-and-three-quarter-length win over It’s All A Joke.