SIOBHAN Rutledge drove Dutch Glory home by a head in a thrilling finish to division one of the Racing Every Week At Dundalk Handicap over seven furlongs.

The 14/1 shot had plenty on her plate a quarter of a mile from home, but made progress at the furlong pole and stayed on well to grab The Cola Brasil near the line.

Rutledge, who partnered the winner for trainer Ross O’Sullivan and owner Aloysius Harney, said: “She did her best there, she was courageous when she needed to be. She came off the bridle fairly early.

“She had been running a bit keen previously and they put earplugs in for the first time today and they made the world of difference. She relaxed and she had it then when she needed it.”

This brought up a double for Rutledge who landed the Join On Instagram @dundalk_stadium Maiden on Aces Wild (11/2).

He disputed the lead two furlongs out and was ridden to take a definite lead inside the final furlong.

The Dandy Man colt battled home by three-parts of a length from a keeping-on Empress Of Bough.

Trainer John McConnell said: “He deserved that. He’s a fast, little horse and he’s lightly raced, and those kind of sprinters improve with age. We are hopeful he will keep the ball rolling.

“He’s for sale probably, so hopefully somebody will come and swoop for him!”

McConnell’s sister, Debbie McConnell, owns the four-year-old colt.

Cleary grasps opportunity with a double

JACK Cleary made the most of his opportunities on the card as he also secured a landmark double.

He was never too far from the pace on Not Too Real Bad in the five-furlong Find Us On Facebook @dundalkstadium Handicap and the pair hit the front approaching the final furlong.

The 11/4 joint favourite closed the race out by half a length for Tom and Helen Mullins.

Cleary agreed that the drop in trip worked for the winner: “Definitely - it suited her today anyway.

“The plan was to be forward on her, but she broke a bit sluggish and the others came around me so I just had to sit on her. It suited her in the end.

“The way she has finished out there, I’d have no doubt there would be more in her.”

Plunder

Nevada Brave and Cleary came through with their challenge to plunder the extended mile and a quarter Irishinjuredjockeys.com Apprentice Handicap for owner/trainer Luke Comer.

Power Drive raced well clear of the field but when the petrol gauge flickered on the run to the final furlong, Nevada Brave was sent to the front by Cleary.

After the 4/1 favourite delivered by two lengths, assistant trainer Jim Gorman said: “The strong pace played into our hands. He had shown promise and it just all fell (into place). He probably would get a mile and a half.

“That’s his (Cleary’s) first double. I’ve been watching him for a while and I was keen to get him for this tonight.”

Hugh Horgan rode a double for Joseph O’Brien on the previous Dundalk card and booted home another winner for him courtesy of Anann in the DundalkStadium.com Maiden over the seven-furlong trip.

The 5/1 shot moved clear a furlong and a half out and took the honours by a diminishing half-length for owner Anne Marie O’Brien.

Horgan said: “She enjoyed being in front and picked up well off the bend.

“They were just slightly starting to come back at her at the end and she was good, in fairness. She hit the line strong, I was happy with her.”

Shabaaby cashes in on lower mark

SHABAABY took advantage of a sliding handicap mark to win the Floodlit Fridays Return To Dundalk Handicap over five furlongs.

The eight-year-old gelding was backed from 12/1 to 15/2 and came home well for Donagh O’Connor once they picked up the lead in the final furlong.

Trainer Johnny Levins said of the half-length winner: “He has dropped down in the handicap late in the summer and it has given him a chance.

“It didn’t look the strongest of races and Donagh was in a lovely little winning position, pulled out at the right time and was just idling away there in front. I’m very pleased for David (Spratt, owner).”

Cursory Exam put himself in the shop window after proving too strong for his rivals in the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap.

After Daniel King drove the 4/1 joint favourite in by a length and a half for Lance Bloodstock Limited, trainer Ger O’Leary commented: “He’s very solid in that grade and got a lovely ride.

“He’s in the sales, the online Tatts Sale on the 18th and 19th along with seven or eight other horses. I have to restock. We have been running these horses a long time and they are running well. We are going to get a few nice yearling fillies.”

Bronze River (10/1) flowed home to take division two of the Racing Every Week At Dundalk Handicap by a couple of lengths for Denis Hogan and the Premier Racing Club. Jockey Sean Bowen said: “He was running in good races up here, he was just breaking slowly and finishing strongly. Today, he jumped well and settled which helped and he was bang on there.”