SADDLING his first winner and registering a double at this very meeting 12 months ago, Stephen Thorne repeated the feat, as a good week got even better for the Rush operator.
With the nominees announced for the HRI Awards the previous morning, Thorne saw his name listed alongside six others in contention for the Emerging Talent prize.
A Champions Weekend success with Essam Saiel’s Pink Oxalis was the season highlight for the ambitious young trainer, and he again successfully combined with that same Saudi-based owner in the View Restaurant at Dundalk Stadium Median Auction Maiden.
Returned at 25/1, newcomer Alissam just prevailed in this 14-runner heat, with Jack Kearney coming with his effort between horses well inside the final furlong.
The Sands Of Mali chesnut ultimately got the better of Now Maybe and 13/8 favourite Fox In Flight, with just a nose and a head between them on crossing the line.
“The penny was only dropping with him the last couple of weeks and I don’t know where we are going next, because that was a big surprise,” the successful handler disclosed.
Too easy
Thorne would have been much more bullish prior to the Bet On The Best Night Out At Dundalk Stadium Maiden, with his Ocean Manifest easily justifying 8/13 favouritism. The first part of a double for Colin Keane, the John Kirkland and Geraldine Ryan-owned chesnut made all and had matters under control from early in the straight.
The pair eventually eased to a four-and-a-quarter-length win.
“It was a lovely opportunity for the horse and that will give him plenty of confidence - I hope,” Thorne remarked.
“We were just keen to keep things very simple on him. He knows his job.”
Keane’s double
Keane initiated his brace on Glyndwr, with this Ger Lyons-trained three-year-old registering a third win from four visits to the venue in the irishinjuredjockeys.com Claiming Race.
Well-supported from early shows of 9/4 into 6/5 favouritism, the Philip Richards-owned three-year-old regained his early lead with two furlongs to go and kept finding for pressure when ridden, holding off the effort of Benavente by a head.
“He’s as genuine as the day is long. There has been a lot of interest in him and we wish the very best to the next person who gets him,” assistant trainer Shane Lyons said.
The winner was later claimed by C O’Toole for €15,000 and will now be trained by Danny Murphy.
Conor McKenna picked up the fourth place Rock Etoile (€5,000), with his father Patrick set to be the designated trainer.
LESS than a fortnight on from the passing of her mother Barbara, Tracey Collins received a timely boost when Buddy Batt claimed the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Handicap. On just his third start for the Conyngham Lodge handler, the 64-rated chesnut was sent off an 8/1 chance and was settled in mid-division by Ronan Whelan.
Switched left from early in the straight and soon improving to challenge, he hit the front with a furlong to go and kept on well from there to score by a length and a quarter for owners Brian Bunyan and the Straight To Victory Syndicate.
“Darren (Bunyan) handed in his licence last year and I was lucky enough that he gave him to me,” Collins, who was registering her first success since the dissolvement of her partnership with Mick Halford, revealed.
“He’s a very kind and relaxed horse and he’s not like your typical sprinter. Hopefully he’ll go on from this.”
Late surge
Second with Tomarlo in that opening heat, David Marnane and Luke McAteer again had to settle for the runner-up berth in the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Nursery Handicap, as Friendly Invoice (28/1) proved too good for their Glen And Tonic.
Providing Conor Maxwell with his first juvenile success, the €3,000 Tattersalls September Yearling Sale purchase surged to the front inside the final 150 yards and came home three quarters of a length to the good for Maxwell’s wife Karena.
“It just took a little bit of time for the penny to drop with her and once or twice she did things wrong,” winning rider Leigh Roche explained.
“I got a lovely run around, jumped and followed the favourite, but we went very steady and I thought that wasn’t helping me.
“She has a bit of ability and I think that is what got her through it.”
RESERVE Porsche Lad (6/4 favourite from 4s early) justified strong market support, as he got up in the final strides to take the concluding Now Racing Every Wednesday At Dundalk Handicap.
Trained and set to be ridden by Sean Davis, Giselles Defence (coughing) was taken out earlier in the day and this allowed the Charles Byrnes-trained victor to get in, with Davis then booked for the ride.
While a response wasn’t immediate when the 59-rated chesnut was ridden in second from the two-furlong pole, he eventually hit top gear and reeled-in the front-running Candidly inside the final 100 yards, then holding off the late effort of Moondharrig by a neck.
“Paddy (Harnett on Candidly) rides a clever race and he is very good on the front end. When he skipped away, I didn’t think we would get him but thankfully we did,” Davis explained. “He’s a solid horse, loves the all-weather and I’d say he is progressive.”
A neck was also the margin of victory in the Celebrate Your Special Occasion At Dundalk Stadium Handicap, with the Alexander Zevenbergen-owned Oiche Rua (7/2 from 13/2 early) just getting the better of 5/2 favourite Send Harry.
Registering her third win of the year, the successful Adrian McGuinness-trained three-year-old had a good tussle with her aforementioned market rival inside the final furlong, before getting on top close home under Adam Caffrey.
“We rode her a bit too handy the last day,” McGuinness reported.
“She needs a good, fast pace over seven (furlongs) and that was the key to her there today.
“Adam was very patient on her, he just knew exactly what to do.”