THE first fixture of the winter season at Dundalk yielded a double for Ger Lyons but the main talking point of the day was the level of activity from the stewards’ room which resulted in a show-stopping seven individual whip suspensions being meted out, including five in one race alone.
The suspensions began in the apprentice handicap where Adam Farragher was hit with six days for using his whip with excessive frequency on the second-placed Spelga.
However, things took an extraordinary turn in the following two-mile handicap where five jockeys received whip bans, which is surely some sort of record.
Winning jockey Rory Cleary got two days, Robbie Colgan received the same sanction for his efforts on the runner-up, Mark Enright got six days for his efforts on the third-placed Important Message and Shane Foley also picked up six days after partnering Aasleagh Fawn into fourth. Meanwhile, Gearoid Brouder, who partnered My Manekineko into fifth, got seven days for his efforts.
The whip suspensions for the day concluded when Alan Persse received two days for his use of the whip when taking the second divide of the sprint handicap on Adams Barbour.
All this turned what appeared to be a relatively low-key fixture into a decidedly eventful curtain raiser to Dundalk’s winter series.
The Ger Lyons brace began with the 94-rated Sister Rosetta in the two-year-old maiden over six furlongs.
The 2/1 favourite made the running for Gary Carroll and was not found wanting when it mattered as she battled on bravely over the last furlong to hold off the charge of Russian River by a short-head.
The experienced winner was building on a fine third to Mehnah at this track in late September. A winter off now beckons for the David Spratt, Lynne Lyons and Sean Jones-owned daughter of Awtaad who was bred by Kevin Prendergast.
Second winner
The second Lyons-trained winner came courtesy of another two-year-old in Aikido in the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden.
A recent second at this track saw this son of Dandy Man go off the 15/8 favourite and he struck for the same connections as Sister Rosetta. Sam Ewing took the mount on the winner who got on top inside the distance for a head success over the newcomer Stay Safe.
Mrs Bouquet (10/1 to 13/2), who held a rating of 97 during her time in Britain with Mark Johnston, concluded the day’s action by taking the five-furlong handicap for Jack Davison and Ronan Whelan.
This Garrett Freyne-owned filly had run very well on her second Irish start when fourth to My Laureate at this track and bounced back to that form to cut down the pace setting Red Cymbal late on.
AFTER deservedly getting off the mark here last month, Storm Steps followed-up in the mile-and-a-half apprentice handicap.
A 6lb rise in the weights was no problem for this lightly raced five-year-old who was ridden by Ben Coen.
The Tim Doyle-trained and Jim Monaghan-owned 4/1 shot led over a furlong out and held off the Polytrack specialist Spelga by half a length. He can add to his haul this winter.
Nightly Wailing, who was third to Storm Steps last time out, then landed the 45-65 rated two-mile handicap for Tom Cleary, his wife Kathleen and their son Rory.
This six-year-old’s only previous success came over this course and distance in April 2018 and he hadn’t gotten the chance to tackle this trip on Polytrack since then after spending two years on the sidelines.
Nightly Wailing (9/2) had work to do from eighth turning in and was only sixth entering the last furlong but he finished out well to defeat Punters Poet by three-parts of a length.
There were initially 20 horses balloted from this race which would suggest that a good appetite exists for handicaps over this trip at Dundalk but there are only two more scheduled this side of Christmas and one of those is open to horses with a much higher rating than this bracket.
Itsalonglongroad (11/1) made it three wins from his last five starts in the mile-and-a-quarter claimer to continue a great run for John McConnell.
A winner over fences at Downpatrick a couple of months ago, this Rockview Racing Club-owned gelding was quite at home for his return to the level as he saw off Royal Admiral by a neck.
The fourth-placed Eloy d’Amerval was claimed by Andrew McNamara for €9,000, while Tom Cleary picked up the eighth-placed Dark Magic for €6,000.
JUST two days after being crowned champion apprentice, Gavin Ryan enjoyed a landmark success aboard the hardy Pillar (5/1) whose victory in the 45-65 rated six-furlong handicap made it 95 career wins for the rider who rode out his claim with this success.
For his part, Pillar, who is trained by the jockey’s staunch supporter Adrian McGuinness, was notching up the seventh success of his 95-race career.
The Sean Gallagher-owned seven-year-old deftly overcame a wide draw to show in front from early on and he lasted out well to finish two and a quarter lengths clear of Jered Maddox.
There was quite a surprise in the offing in the second divide of the sprint handicap as Adams Barbour sprang an 80/1 shock to give trainer Lee Smyth his first winner since March 2019. Alan Persse was on board this six-race maiden who had dropped 10lb in the weights for his first three handicap outings.
The David Adam-owned three-year-old produced a brave effort front and, after looking sure to be picked off by Maggies Thunder inside the distance, he rallied splendidly to pull off the upset.