REESE Holohan was in inspired form, riding a 1155/1 double courtesy of a couple of 33/1 outsiders, with the Jarlath Fahey-trained Brave Approach getting the ball rolling in the mile handicap.
The Mrs Suzanne Fahey-owned filly raced prominently and went on a furlong and a half from home, staying on well in the closing stages to score by three-parts of a length.
Holohan said: “I thought I was going to be beaten halfway up the straight, but she stuck her neck out again and kept finding.
“There’s plenty of improvement left in her as well. Definitely see her improving on turf the way she goes.”
Flew home
The Mark Fahey-trained Lady Landhort gave Holohan his double in the finale over six furlongs, following four unplaced efforts over five furlongs.
Ninth at the furlong pole, the daughter of Magna Grecia sprouted wings to storm home and score by half a length for owners T.J. Flanagan, Ronan Macken, Shane McSweeney and S. O’Malley.
Fahey said: “I think we got tactics right today; we said we would just drop her in and ride her for luck.
“Reese gave her a fantastic ride; he’s a great kid. I don’t know how lucky I am to have him; he’s riding plenty of winners for a lad only going a short space of time.”
BUDDY Batt made it three wins from six starts for Tracey Collins, when landing the opening Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap over five furlongs, completing the first leg of a double for Ronan Whelan.
Held up, the 6/4 favourite made his move into the straight and was produced to lead in the final furlong. He saw it out nicely by three-quarters of a length for owners Brian Bunyan and the Straight To Victory Syndicate.
“He has turned inside out the last while. He has obviously taken hugely to the all-weather,” Whelan said.
On whether the five-year-old had reached his ceiling, Whelan commented: “I don’t think so and he can turn it onto the turf as well.”
Options open
Whelan later steered John Feane’s Ohailbhic (100/30) to success in the mile handicap in the colours of Ivan Holloway.
The five-year-old raced in mid-division and travelled well into contention two furlongs from home. The chesnut soon led and proved a length too good for a keeping-on Gaiety Girl.
Feane said: “He ran once up the Curragh over a mile over one of the nice weekends, I think, and he actually just took a bit of a false step. I always thought he would get a mile.
“It was a nice performance, and we have options on all-weather and turf.”
Dual-purpose
Beauparc rewarded sustained support (9/2 to 5/2cf) with a three-and-a-half-length success in the mile-and-a-half handicap.
She rounded the home bend on a good stride for Nicola Burns and moved through to lead two furlongs down. In control at the furlong marker, she glided home by three and a half lengths for owners Peter Gleeson and Mark Gleeson.
Trainer Gerry Keane said: “She has won twice on the turf, and we were talking about even going over hurdles with her. She would be a grand mare for a summer hurdle. She barely gets the two miles on the flat, but she would get it over hurdles.”
TYSON Fury stamped his authority all over the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Stadium Claiming Race to give Denis Hogan a share of the Winter Series title with Ado McGuinness - 19 winners each.
The 8/11 favourite, with a rating of 96, disputed the lead two furlongs out and Joey Sheridan soon sent him on. He was ridden clear approaching the final furlong and outclassed the field by eight lengths for owner Mary B Hogan, who successfully claimed him with the Premier Racing Club.
Trainer Hogan said: “On ratings you would expect him to do that, but he has bits of issues. That’s why we pitched him in there. If he wins, brilliant and, if we lose him, we lose him.”
Fitness tells
Robson De Aguiar enjoyed a one-two in the six-furlong Horse Racing Every Friday Race, but not as the market expected.
Flanker Jet (15/2) headed Ipanema Queen (4/7 favourite) with a furlong to go and was all out close home to hold on by a nose under Mikey Sheehy for Giselle De Aguiar.
The trainer said: “He (Flanker Jet) is probably fitter than the filly (Ipanema Queen) and six furlongs I think stretches the filly a little bit. She is free in front, so I think she needs to drop to five furlongs until she settles. I think she is going to improve a lot after that race.”
Clear-cut
Aingeal Dorcha (5/1) powered home for a decisive success in the handicap over an extended 10 furlongs.
Adam Browne-Souza rode Andy Slattery’s charge prominently before asserting with a quarter of a mile to travel. The Men Of Forty Eight Syndicate-owned gelding really opened up in the final furlong to score five and a half lengths.
Browne-Souza said: “He has (taken a step forward) and that’s what he likes, to be carried into a race.”
Declan McDonogh, Jack Kearney and Adam Caffrey were the leading riders in the Winter Series, with each of them partnering 12 winners.