MICHAEL Halford and Colin Keane rounded off the year in good style when teaming up for a double with Ahlan Bil Zain and Sky Seven at Dundalk on Friday night.
Ahlan Bin Zain added to a course and distance win in October when fitted with blinkers for the first time in the seven-furlong Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap.
The easy-to-back 11/2 chance challenged down the outside, getting on top in the final 100 yards to beat top-weight Dandys Gold by a length and a quarter.
“They went good and hard and I’d say the blinkers just sharpened him up a bit. That’s his trip. It used to look like he wanted a mile but when we stepped him up I wasn’t so sure that he got it,” said Halford before adding, “It was a shame to have beaten the second as my uncle (George) owns him.
“He’ll keep going here over the winter, and the lads that own him (Richard McNally and partners) have had a good bit of success with us in the past.”
Sky Seven confirmed the promise of his debut here last month when justifying 11/10 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The Helmet colt led well over a furlong out, and kept on well for Keane to beat Crockford by a length as the pair stretched clear of the remainder.
Halford said, “He’d a very promising start so it was nice to build on that. He’s a lovely big raw horse and still very much a baby. Colin kept it simple and he galloped out strong to the line.
“He has a good attitude and wants to please you. It’s our first horse for that owner (Nasir Askar) who is Dubai-based. We might give him a bit of time now and bring him along gradually.”
INSPIRED
War Hero made a quick reappearance after finishing third here 48 hours earlier, and it proved an inspired decision as the well-backed 4/1 chance took the featured Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Awards 2018 Handicap.
Trained by Patrick Prendergast for Richard Barnes, the son of Declaration Of War made all and held on gamely in the closing stages to beat Waitaki and Have A Nice Day by a head and half a length.
“That was great for a horse having his third run in just two weeks. He had a wind job and was gelded and it’s done a great job on him,” said winning rider Niall McCullagh.
“The last time I rode him I said to Patrick I wouldn’t mind coming back a furlong and the seven really suited him today. I didn’t think there was much pace on and I felt I could do things myself and grind it out. He’s kept picking up and has held on well.”
FLOODLIGHTS
The fifth race of the evening, the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Maiden, was delayed by 25 minutes following a floodlight failure while the horses were being loaded into stalls.
Chief Executive Jim Martin explained the fault saying, “A drop in power caused the system to cut out. Thankfully we have a back-up generator which meant the track was not in total darkness.”
Officials did well to make up time on the remainder of the card with the final race starting just six minutes after the scheduled start time.
The Game Of Life (7/1) made a perfect start in this mile maiden for the Rugby & Racing Syndicate, which includes Irish internationals Fergus McFadden and Keith Earls.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding stayed on strongly towards the far rail inside the final furlong to beat fellow debutant May Peace Prevail by two and three-quarter lengths.
Winning rider Seamie Heffernan said: “He’s very well-bred, and Joseph thought he was a nice horse. He hadn’t overfaced him, and felt he’d improve from the run. I gave him a chance early on and he ran home strong.”
Annabelle Rock, owned and bred by Tom Heatrick, upset the odds in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race. The 53-rated juvenile was sent off a 12/1 chance but headed the 4/7 favourite That’s Not Me early in the final furlong and kept on well to score by two lengths under Shane Foley.
COMPETITIVE
The daughter of Dandy Man is trained by Ado McGuinness who said: “She’s going to get crucified! It was a good pot of money and you would have to win two handicaps to get it, so that’s why we said we’d have a go. She’s not a bad filly and I think she’ll be competitive next year in sprints.”
Commander Won (8/1) recorded a sixth win at this venue when making all under Conor Maxwell in the extended 10-furlong handicap.
The 8/1 chance, trained for Sean Gallagher by Dermot McLoughlin, built up a sizeable lead before halfway and stayed on well in the straight to beat Tooreen Legend by five lengths.
“That’s the only way to ride him. He broke well tonight, and is tough and genuine. We dropped him back in trip because there was no other race for him. He was in good nick and it was a good ride for a National Hunt jockey!” said the Ratoath trainer.
Spanish Dawn (9/1) benefitted from a patient ride by Wayne Lordan to land division one of the 45-65 rated extended 10-furlong handicap.
After finishing strongly to beat Queluz by a length and a half, trainer John McConnell commented: “She deserved that as she’s run a couple of nice races. She’s very hard on herself and, if she dropped the bit, she could be a very nice filly. I’m delighted for the owner (Pamela White) who is very enthusiastic.”
Wexford teenager Willie Byrne partnered his fourth winner as McGuigan (9/2) made most of the running in division two.
The Jim Bolger-trained gelding just got the better of a final furlong tussle with Feisty Katerina and the places were confirmed after a stewards’ inquiry.
Bolger’s travelling head man Ger Flynn said: “He’d dropped down the ratings and Willie gave him a good positive ride. He’s an honest and genuine horse and a real favourite in the yard.”
ACTING STEWARDS
P.N Reynolds, L McFerran, T McDonogh, J.G.J McCoy, M.F Donoghue.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
CROCKFORD (J O’Brien): Drew clear of the remainder when runner-up in the seven-furlong maiden, and should have little trouble going one better in a similar event.