A GROWING level of concern about the racing surface at Dundalk manifested itself in a pair of track inspections by a variety of personnel and the matter is now set to come before the chief executive of the IHRB.

Before racing got underway a delegation of riders requested a meeting with the stewards to air concerns about the inconsistency of the racing surface. The riders asked the stewards to inspect with them areas of the track after the first race. Both parties inspected an area of the track before and after harrowing and, while the riders were happy for racing to proceed, they requested their concerns would be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Throughout this process the clerk of the course, Brendan Sheridan, was consulted and he shared the concerns of the riders. Dundalk Racecourse’s chief executive Jim Martin was informed of the concerns made and the matter was referred on to the IHRB.

PURPOSE

The sample size is admittedly a small one but Aidan O’Brien’s two-year-olds have started the season with some purpose and the trainer is two from two with his juvenile runners as King Neptune made a stylish debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Just four days after Monarch Of Egypt carried all before him at Naas, his stablemate King Neptune faced three rivals for his first outing and he drifted from odds on out to 11/10 as the money came for the recent course runner-up Yesterdayoncemore (9/10).

However, the Ballydoyle colt was on top when it mattered most. King Neptune loomed up on the inner with around a quarter of a mile to run and wasn’t long before the son of War Front was showing in front. He ran on strongly to defeat the market leader by three and a quarter lengths.

“He was quite professional and wasn’t as green as I thought that he might be. He jumped, travelled and quickened up and another furlong wouldn’t be any problem for him,” commented the champion jockey, Donnacha O’Brien.

Dunkirk Harbour was an odds-on chance to make it an O’Brien double in the maiden over an extended 10 furlongs but the 4/9 shot was upstaged by Pearlman (11/4) who had been placed on his two previous outings at this track.

Ronan Whelan produced this well related Godolphin-owned son of Nathaniel with his effort nearing the final furlong and it was soon clear that the front-running favourite was in trouble. Pearlman led around 150 yards from home and he carried the day by a length and three-quarters.

“I’d really like his attitude and I’d say he’s improving,” said Halford. “He got a lovely ride from Ronan. We said we’d get a lead and have one go at the favourite and it’s worked out. We’ll move this horse into handicaps now.”

It was a night to live long in the memory for young apprentice Hugh Horgan, a son of former leading National Hunt rider Trevor Horgan, as he bagged the first success of his career aboard Rockfish (5/1) who is trained by his first cousin Joseph O’Brien. The winner was produced with a sustained effort early in the straight and he answered an accomplished Horgan’s every call to succeed by half a length from Bruinneall.

“I’m just very grateful to Joseph and the owners (Justin Carthy) for the opportunity they have given me, that’s the fifth time I’ve ridden this horse,” reflected 17-year-old Horgan whose father numbered a Galway Plate success on Life Of A Lord amongst his big race triumphs.

“Joseph has been very good to me since I went to him a couple of years ago and you learn something new there every day. I’m just very grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given.”

The Billy Lee-ridden Sundance Star (4/1) built on a solid juvenile campaign that had yielded a trio of runner-up finishes with victory in the five-furlong handicap. Over the first few weeks of the season Ken Condon’s team have consistently shown up well and, after sending out a number of placed runners, the classic-winning trainer deservedly made his mark with this daughter of Helmet.

In a race where the field came over towards the stand’s side rail, Sundance Star travelled well in a forward position and she responded to pressure over the last furlong and a half to defeat Sunset Nova by a length. The filly carries the colours of her breeder, Tom Molan.

“As it was her first run of the season myself and Ken were keen for her to get a lead and she’s done that well. She’s a fast filly and I’m not sure if she would get six furlongs but hopefully she will be able to win again at this trip,” remarked Lee.

Silk Cravat (10/3) turned out fresh and well from a fifth to Mokhalad at Naas on Saturday by picking up the 47-70 rated handicap over seven furlongs. A first winner of the year for John Geoghegan, who trains the six-year-old for his brother Brian, the Ben Coen-ridden Silk Cravat led inside the last quarter of a mile and finished with a length and three-quarters to spare over Footsteps At Dawn.

“I thought he might find it hard to reverse form with the third (Nisior Donn) but he came out of Saturday’s race in great form,” reported the trainer. “He’s rated lower on grass and I’d say we will go back on the turf with him now. He can be tricky but he got a great ride from Ben.”

Pat Martin was full of praise for the promising rider Gavin Ryan after he captured the apprentice handicap aboard the Dundalk regular Lady Rosebud (9/2).

The Derek Molloy-owned filly is now a five-time winner at this venue but this was her first success for 13 months and she was 11lbs lower than when last successful. In a race where victory could have gone any one of five ways deep inside the last furlong, Lady Rosebud battled on splendidly to get home by a nose from Mulzamm.

“I’ve been trying to get Gavin for a while as I think he rides well. This filly has been threatening to win for a while and she likes this time of year and the track up here,” reflected Pat Martin.

experienced

The vastly experienced Kasbah recorded his first success since joining Adrian McGuinness last autumn as he captured the six-furlong claimer. The seven-year-old, who was once rated as high as 97, was returned the 8/13 favourite under Colin Keane and he got on top to prevail by two and a quarter lengths.

The first two home were claimed back by their connections, while fifth-placed Downtown Diva was claimed for €6,000 to join Adrian Keatley.

“He’s owned by the Dooley brothers who are based in the UK and our yard sponsor Bart O’Sullivan and I think that’s their first winner,” reported McGuinness. “He’s a fun horse and a fast six furlongs is what he needs. He could go to Chester now as that would be a local track for the owners.”

ACTING STEWARDS

F. Cahill, R. Hall, J. Martin-Smith, F.G. Fitzsimons, M.F. O’Donoghue

HORSE TO FOLLOW

SUNSET NOVA (A. Slattery): He showed promise last season and a comeback second to Sundance Star indicates that his turn may not be far away.