MICHAEL Delahunty, owner of Voice Of Reason, rode his first winner aboard that horse on just his second ride in the Floodlit Fridays At Dundalk (Q.R.) Handicap.
Delahunty was keen to race him prominently and they disputed the lead from the stalls. They went on after half a mile and were still boxing on into the straight.
The pair were far from home, though, as Tatateo and John Gleeson strongly challenged them in the final furlong. The horses flashed past the post with Voice Of Reason getting the verdict by a head at 14/1.
It was a family affair as the rider’s father, William Delahunty, trained him.
The jockey said: “I’m riding the horse every day. Before I go into college, I’m getting my father up out of bed early in the morning - I’m keeping him honest!
“When I was in sixth year at school, I went into Eoin Griffin’s and I didn’t have much riding experience. He brought me on and I think if I didn’t get that start that time, I wouldn’t be here now.”
Shamrock double
Far From Dandy (13/2) was the first leg of a double for Stephen Thorne and Shamrock Thoroughbreds in the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap over the mile.
The three-year-old gelding was having his seventh start for Thorne after switching from George Boughey in Britain.
He made eye-catching progress for Ben Coen a furlong and a half down and, once he took over passing the furlong marker, stayed on well to post a victory by half a length.
Thorne said: “We purchased him from Middleham Park after Galway, just thought he would be a lovely horse for the all-weather for the winter.
“He might be a nice horse for Lingfield (Good Friday), a fast-run mile will suit him well.”
Ready winner
Sir Les Patterson (5/2) was a ready winner of the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap over six furlongs for Thorne and Shamrock Thoroughbreds.
The four-year-old gelding knifed through the field to pick up the lead with a furlong to travel and opened up for Jack Kearney to strike by a widening four lengths.
Thorne said: “We bought him in July, we took our time, and he ran a lovely race in the Bold Lad Sprint (third in Curragh).
“We’ll probably be heading for Newcastle now on Good Friday. I think we need one more run and we’ll plot something there in February time with a view to getting him there fresh.”
SHANE Foley rode at a light weight on newcomer Velarose in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden and it paid off, as she took the honours by three lengths at 11/1.
The daughter of Inns Of Court was positioned in mid-division and began to make her move entering the straight. She stayed on to lead inside the final furlong and increased the margin in the closing stages for trainer Mark Fahey and owner Nicola McCarthy.
Foley said: “We liked her early on in the year and she just went a bit weak on us. In fairness, Mark gave her all the time she needed.
“She was here 10 days ago for a little school around and she enjoyed it - she gave me a real nice feel.
“I saw she was in and only had 8st 8lb, and it would be light enough this time of year for me, so I told the lads she would win with 2lb over!”
Sixth win
Hell Left Loose secured his sixth career success, and first on the Polytrack, in the hands of Nicola Burns in Division One of the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap.
Burns steered him to the front a furlong down and the nine-year-old gelding gamely fended off fast-finishing Hale Bopp by a short-head at 28/1 for the Premier Racing Club.
Burns said: “Denis (Hogan) said to be handy enough and he jumped smart. I had a nice lead into the straight - he nearly got caught, but he stays every bit of the mile.”
Division Two of the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap saw Java Wood spring a 40/1 surprise under Julian Pietropaolo.
The grey gelding travelled well in fifth a quarter of a mile out and his momentum saw him hit the front at the furlong pole. He kept on well to beat Georg Zhukov by a length and a quarter for owner Peadar Kelly. Trainer Kevin Smith said: “We have had him up here a few times and he has worked well, so we were happy with him coming here.
“Long may it continue (association with Pietropaolo), he’s value I think and he is definitely an up-and-coming jockey.”
NUMIDIA was nibbled at in the market (10/1 - 15/2) for the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap and made most in the hands of Rory Cleary.
He asserted inside the final quarter of a mile and passed the post with a length and a quarter in hand on this first attempt at a two-mile trip on the Flat.
Owner/trainer Peter Lawlor said: “He pops up once a year like Father Christmas! He got it handy there for most of the way around, he wasn’t hassled that much. He relaxed away and finished off well.”
Cinammon Coco (6/4 favourite) added to his Down Royal hurdle success when obliging in the Now Racing Every Wednesday At Dundalk Maiden for Joseph O’Brien, and owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
Declan McDonogh took aim at the leader El Galvino and produced his mount to lead inside the final furlong. They proved half a length too good for that rival.
McDonogh said: “I had a nice seam around in behind Billy (Lee, Ballyadam) and we sort of hack cantered around and sprinted for three (furlongs), so it suited me.”