Carberry and Meade dominate as The Dotted Line finally comes good
And the former-champion’s boss Noel Meade equalled the achievement, sharing in the victories of The Dotted Line and Signatory before saddling the well-touted newcomer Goldmar to win the bumper.
“I fancied him for every bumper he ran in last year, but he disappointed every time,” explained Meade after The Dotted Line turned over favourite Siegemaster in the second division of the Gowran Park Golf Membership Open Maiden Hurdle.
“He’s a chaser in the making and is much stronger than last year. The better ground helped him.”
Carberry had an armchair ride on Signatory in the third division of this event, coasting through to master Miss Aurelia on the run-in, with his rider motionless in the saddle.
Signatory, which started favourite for the ‘Ebor’ on his last flat outing before joining Meade, was having only his second run over hurdles. Meade intends taking “baby steps” with him over the coming months.
Carberry again had an easy time on board the Michael Grassick trained Sunshine Guest, reverting to hurdling after a summer campaign on the level, in the second division of the Carlow Mares Handicap Hurdle.
The 11/4 favourite cruised clear from the second last flight to hammer Tap On Nellie by fourteen lengths but, unfortunately for Grassick, she faces a stiff rise in her rating before getting another opportunity to run.
Noel Meade completed his treble when Nina Carberry partnered Goldmar to an ultimately hard-earned victory over Capel Lad in the bumper.
The 11/10 favourite, the chief ‘talking horse’ all day, had travelled well through the race before showing signs of inexperience. Meade reported: “He never worked on grass before. He was too backward to work in the spring and, the ground has been too quick to work the younger bumper horses over the last few weeks. He has been on the all-weather. He might run in a winner’s bumper but will be going hurdling soon. He should come a on a lot from this run.”
Local trainer Sandra McCarthy will consider bringing Eye Candy to Aintree following his victory, under David Casey, in the Kilkenny Beginners Chase.
Nobody rides the new all-weather track at Dundalk as well as Johnny Murtagh and the former champion notched his ninth winner on the track when guiding Romeo’s On Fire to victory in last night’s opener.
Romeo’s On Fire is trained by Ger Lyons who explained: “He’s been very frustrating. He has buckets of ability and, when I put a tongue-tie on him for his last two runs, the plan back-fired.”
Declan McDonogh produced Point Callimere, owned and trained by Maura McGuinness, with a late surge to deny Diamonds For Luck in the sprint handicap. He completed a double when course specialist Davidi held the late flourish of Fly Free in the Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Race.
Ounooi, trained by Noel ‘Iggie’ Lawlor, sprang a 33/1 shock (132/1 on the Tote) in the two-year-old fillies maiden. The winning trainer said: “She’s a big weak filly and hated the ground when she ran at Leopardstown. She’ll make a seriously nice three-year-old.”
Aidan O’Brien won the colts maiden, not with 8/11 favourite Mikhail Fokine but 8/1 shot Windsor Palace, which stayed on strongly under Shaun Levey to nail longshot Croi Mo Roi in the last few strides.
