DONNACHA O’Brien was on hand to welcome home a one-two-three in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Book Now Nursery Handicap over seven furlongs on the Polytrack.
Gavin Ryan, in the Emily Magnier, Mrs O’Loughlin and Mrs Byrne colours, partnered easy-to-back Spinning Around (7/1) and he sent her to the front inside the final furlong. She was far from home, though, as Sovereign Thought stayed on to press her right to the line.
Spinning Around got the verdict by a nose from her stablemate with You’ll Think of Me a neck away in third in a driving finish.
O’Brien said: “That filly (Spinning Around) is probably the best-worked filly at home. She seemed to handle the surface well and I think there is plenty in there. Gavin said she doesn’t seem to do a whole lot when she gets to the front, so hopefully there are some more races in her.”
Successful campaign
Johnny Murtagh is having his best-ever campaign and Daamberdiplomat (9/2) gave him another winner in the Bar One Casino Handicap over seven furlongs. The five-year-old gelding raced in rear for Ben Coen and they made their move in the straight.
From third place a furlong out, they finished well to get up by a neck close home for the Whyte Hickey Rafter Kilkenny Syndicate.
Coen said: “He can just do a little bit too much in the early part of the races, but he relaxed today and did things right. I think he is sales bound, so it is nice to get a final win with him.”
Powerful finish
Joseph O’Brien’s Powerful Hook Head was strong at the finish of the IrishInjuredjockeys.com Apprentice Optional Claiming Race, which was his second appearance on the Polytrack.
The 9/2 shot tracked the leaders and made headway a furlong down. Further progress saw him soon lead and he stayed on well to close it out by two and a quarter lengths for Power Thoroughbreds PTY Limited.
Apprentice jockeys’ title race contender Wayne Hassett said: “When I asked him to pick up, he picked up lovely with the blinkers on today.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t come out of it well - badly injured (after the line).”
Runner-up Benavente was claimed by James McAuley to be trained by Denis Hogan, while third-placed Satono Chevalier was claimed by Aidan Melia.
CALA Bonita (4/1) made all over the extended 10 furlongs in the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap to take the spoils for trainer Matthew Smith and owner Debbie Kelly.
The Inns Of Court filly looked to have a challenge on her hands when Drucker improved to second place in the final furlong. However, she stuck to her task and beat that rival by a length and a quarter.
Smith commented: “Robbie (Colgan) said she wasn’t doing probably a stroke really in front and every time they were coming to her, she was picking up. That is her last run for me now, so she will be going to the sales. She’s in Tattersalls (Newmarket), selling on the Monday.”
Second chance
Andrew Slattery was delighted to grab a victory on Richard O’Brien’s Quatre Bras in the Michael And Esther Cooney Memorial Handicap over an extended mile-and-a-quarter. He held the four-year-old gelding up towards the rear and the pair made their way into mid-division with a furlong to travel.
Slattery soon sent him to the head of affairs and the 17/2 chance was able to repel No More Porter by half a length for owners Frank J. Lynch and Maria Lynch.
Slattery said: “I came in kicking myself in Listowel that I didn’t make more use of him. I’ve ridden him the last twice and, in fairness, I asked the owners to give me another chance on him and they did, so it is great to pay them back.”
Handy
Wellwhatshappenin (14/1) came home best of all to claim division one of the Celebrate Your Special Occasion At Dundalk Stadium Handicap for Eddie and Patrick Harty. Jamie Powell’s mount raced handily in mid-division and took closer order in the final quarter of a mile.
His sustained momentum saw him take over inside the final furlong and he hit the line with three quarters of a length in hand for Marie Harty.
The owner’s son and joint-trainer Patrick said: “Paddy Hayes, who used to train him, started with us in August as travelling head lad. He was convinced that this horse had a day in him. We were more than happy to take the horse on and go. In fairness, his work has always been very solid.”
Hastily, who finished ninth, was suspended from running for 60 days after kicking out at jockey Leigh Roche before the start of the race. This led to Roche being stood down and his mount, Lorr’s Girl, to be withdrawn from the race.
DRAFTED rewarded good support when taking division two of the Celebrate Your Special Occasion At Dundalk Stadium Handicap for Luke McAteer and Charles Byrnes. The 11/10 favourite took over a furlong and a half from home and McAteer kept him up to his work to hold Bucky Larson by half a length for owner James M. Flaherty. Byrnes said: “That is what he is and I’d say he would be keeping a bit for himself. I imagine he will keep going, probably up here.” Mark Crehan, rider of sixth-placed Haughty, was given a two-day ban for riding carelessly.
Fozzy Stack’s Cecco won a final-furlong battle with Washington Street to land the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Maiden. Joey Sheridan’s mount made most, but had to see off Washington Street who kept him honest all the way to the line. The 8/1 chance prevailed by a short head for owner Michael Sabatine. The jockey said: “When I was drawn out (wide), Fozzy left it up to me. I just thought I would get him out, across and go even, build in front and try and stretch them. He should stay going.”