A PLAN to give American owner Staton Flurry a winner at Laytown came together when the four-year-old Initial Blue landed the Bet With Tote On Racing Amateur Riders Handicap on Thursday.

On his first start for trainer Jack Davison, the 14/1 chance added to four wins on the all-weather in Britain for trainers Richard Hannon and Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, when holding the challenge of the Edward Lynam-trained Collective Power by a head.

It was a first Laytown success for both Davison and rider Harry Swan, and the trainer commented: “It is great when a plan comes off, it was 100% a plan.

“I went to Newmarket two months ago to buy Staton a horse to get to Laytown. He has come all the way from Arkansas for today and he is a great supporter of the yard, I’m just thrilled for him.”

When asked if Initial Blue will be heading to Dundalk in the coming months, Davison added: “We sure will and we might go to St Moritz with him as well.”

Swan on song

Charlie Swan went through his glittering career without riding a winner at Laytown, but his young son bagged a second success, completing his first double, as the Gordon Elliott-trained Hygge took the concluding Money Back Daily Specials With Tote.ie Amateur Riders Handicap.

Owned by the Sundowners Syndicate, the four-year-old failed to figure in a flat handicap at the Galway Festival having won a maiden at Killarney in May and a maiden hurdle at Cork in July.

Having dodged a couple of marker poles along the way, the 17/2 chance bounced back to form when leading over a furlong and a half out to come home four and a quarter lengths clear of Denis Hogan’s 10/1 shot Alfred Tennyson, easily the widest winning margin on the day.

Swan said: “He showed a good turn of foot, to be fair to him. He has put it away well.

“I suppose I was just lucky to get the gap down the rail. I thought I was there too soon then, but he quickened away really well.

“It’s fantastic to get my first double on the track, which is a nice one to tick off as well. It is so hard to get one winner here, but to get two is something else. I’m delighted.”

The 11-year-old Verhoyen bowed out as a winner, as he was retired after landing the Gilna’s Of Laytown Handicap.

Billy Lee opened up a four-winner lead (72-68) over Colin Keane in the jockeys’ championship, as the very well-supported 9/2 chance held off the late challenge of Ado McGuinness’ 11/4 joint-favourite Moyassr by a nose, and then survived a lengthy stewards’ enquiry.

Verhoyen, owned in partnership by Paul Cullen, Joe Keeling and trainer Michael Grassick, was recording his first win since July 2024 and ninth in all.

He won his first race as a three-year-old at Dundalk in March 2018, again with Billy Lee in the saddle.

Grassick commented: “We are going to retire him now, retire him on a high. He was a Scurry winner (as a four-year-old in 2019) and blacktype as a two-year-old. He is for life with us.

“I was worried earlier in the year that I was going to struggle to win again with him. He just wasn’t performing the way he was working at home. He stuck at it well.” Grassick won the same race a year ago with Amanirenas.

Back-to-back success

Trainer Pat Magee also scored a back-to-back success as he landed the Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Claiming Race for the second year running, with Goldrush Kid scoring gamely at odds of 5/1. It was a first Laytown ride for Jack Kearney, who made every yard on the five-year-old who held the challenge of Ger O’Leary’s 11/4 favourite Blue Anthem by half a length, a fair effort on his first start since April.

Magee, also on the mark with Coulstys Way at Galway on Tuesday, said: “I’ve only had two runners up here and both of them have won. We’ll try and go again next year!

“I’d definitely be pushing for more of these low-grade claimers. I would second what Ger Lyons said a couple of weeks ago. The optional claimers, I don’t know what the theory is and I’ve spoken to a few people, and no-one can explain it to me. We need races for these lower-grade horses.”

Six claims

Magee predicted that the winner would be claimed and how right he was. Six of the 10 runners were the subject of claims after the race. Ado McGuinness bought out the owners of both Land Of Giants (sixth) and Distillate (third) to stay in his yard, and he will also now train the winner Goldrush Kid and the runner-up Blue Anthem.

Bernard John Llewellyn claimed the McGuinness-trained She’s Ideal (fourth) and John McConnell takes charge of Thompson Gunner (seventh).

It was a great week for Mulligan, who landed his second career double at Galway on Tuesday and followed up when leading on the 11/4 shot early inside the final furlong to beat Andy Slattery’s 9/4 favourite Therewillbeglory by a length and a quarter.

It was also a first Laytown success for the winning trainer, who was also on lead-up duties and Mulligan commented: “Delighted to get one for Thomas and all of these men.

“They gave me plenty of chances and it is nice to be able to win one for them.

Different

“That’s my first time riding at Laytown, so it is nice to get that done. It is very different - it is a nice change of scenery and a good atmosphere here today. It is great for fillies like that.”

The eight-year-old Chavajod gave trainer Denis Coakley and his son Ross their first Laytown success when landing the seven-furlong O’Neills.com Handicap for a partnership made up of the trainer himself, Joseph Costello, Arthur Connick and Patrick Coakley.

In another tight finish, the 18/1 chance edged ahead close to the finish to deny Eamon Delaney’s front-running local hope and 100/30 favourite Lohengrin by half a length.

With the trainer leading the winner up, Ross Coakley commented: “That’s our first winner in Laytown. It means a lot to everyone, means a lot to the family.

“It has been challenging back across the water, so for me to get a winner is big as well.”