ANOTHER Story (10/1) could be the name to take from this evening of action, as she initiated a brace for Ronan Whelan. The Sheila Lavery-trained and bred daughter of Rip Van Winkle landed the spoils in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (Plus 10 Race).
Whelan had to do a bit of switching about to secure a clear passage on the Spyglass Syndicate-owned Another Story after she’d been slowly away on her debut. In the end the successful two-year-old crossed the line with a head to spare over the pace-setting Tarazani.
“We’ve always really liked her but we’ve given her time,” revealed Ms Lavery. “That shows how good she is as she missed the break and was a bit keen. I just wanted to give her a run and she’ll go on her holidays. She’s very green and needs a lot of education.”
Whelan, on the mark twice here on November 6th, repeated the feat at combined odds of 142/1, when teaming up with owner Frank Lync and trainer Gavin Cromwell on Political Policy (12/1), victorious in the finale, the Floodlit Friday Nights Rated Race.
Whelan’s other mount on the card, Havelock Ellis, lost out narrowly when a half length runner-up in the 7.35pm.
Here runner-up Reckless Lad didn’t get a completely trouble free run, but Political Policy registered his fifth win, all achieved at Dundalk, by staying on well down the outer for a half length win.
Cromwell remarked: “We’ll keep him going here. Frank is from Dundalk and this is his Cheltenham. He loves it.”
PUNTERS
Colin Keane again endeared himself to punters by getting the favourite home in front in both divisions of the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap.
On the Gary Ryan-owned and Karl Thornton-trained Hatch Hall (11/4) in the first split, Keane got the now three-in-a-row victor to the front a furlong out before going on to prevail by half a length.
Hatch Hall has plenty of options now including over jumps, but in the immediate term Thornton said: “He’ll come back here in two weeks for another 47 to 65.”
Billy Lee was unwell after his fourth place finish on Our Rachael in the 7.35pm, so Colin Keane stepped in to guide 3/1 market-leader Invincible Don to success for owner-trainer John Morrison.
First-time blinkered Sea Bank put it up to them from the front but he edged to his right in the straight and one of the ‘finishers,’ Invincible Don, reversed form with Ondamoura from 23 days previously. Morrison’s charge came out on top by half a length on this occasion.
SENSATIONAL
Taglietelle, the first horse Jack Kennedy rode on the racecourse proper, when runner-up at Clonmel back in May, found plenty for pressure for the sensational teenager to gain the day in the featured Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap.
The Aintree Festival handicap hurdle winner from last spring, in a three-miler, displayed that stamina and toughness in this two-mile heat, as the Dundalk first-timer got the better of Eye Of The Tiger by a length and a quarter.
“He only just does what he has to. He’s such a consistent horse and that’s seven he’s win for us now,” said Gordon Elliott’s assistant trainer Olly Murphy. Elliott has care of Taglietelle, blinkered here for his well-received victory (5/4 favourite), for the Olduvai Syndicate.
Kimbay (7/2) just edged out Fast In The Wind, by a nose, in the Dundalk Stadium - Light Up Your Night Handicap, to credit her rider Derek McCormack with a birthday winner.
Noel ‘Iggy’ Lawlor handles Kimbay for Willie Hynes and he explained: “Derek and Rory (Cleary) do all the work on the horses at home. She was unlucky here last week to run into Danz Gift and will keep going up here for the winter.”
McCormack was cautioned for his use of the whip in the latter stages on the now four-time course winner.
An hour later in the Big Bad Bob Maiden, Neatly Put (20/1), equipped with a hood for the first time in a race, also prevailed by a narrow margin, taking the mile and a half contest by a head from Rock On Rosie.
“I have to thank my head lad John O’Meara who has done a lot of stalls work with him and has been very patient with him. The stalls handlers tonight were also very good to me,” said trainer/jockey Denis Hogan.
“The last two days he’s failed to race and just lost the plot. He’s a good horse though,” added Hogan. “The plan is to go for a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas now. His owner, Michael Denning, lives in Liverpool, and he’ll be delighted to get him back on track.”
Following on from the nose winning verdict of Kimbay, there was another minimum distance margin between winner, Settle For Red and runner-up, Red Words, in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Apprentice Handicap.
Heavily backed favourite Settle For Red (11/4 into 7/4), just obliged under Connor King at the expense of Red Words.
“He’s a grand old horse and he likes those short-heads (won by a nose here on November 6th). He keeps his head down at the right time,” reflected David Marnane. Marnane trains Settle For Red for Maurice Casey.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
SEA BANK (H. Rogers): He improved with blinkers on for the first time to take third place behind Invincible Don. He can build on that effort from his low rating.
Acting Stewards
P. N. Reynolds, P. Caffrey, J. Rearden, D. McCorkell, S, Quinn