Lee on the double again

BILLY LEE, who bagged a brace of winners at the Curragh on Sunday, doubled-up again at Dundalk last night, scoring on Casela Park and Emmpat.

Pride of place must go to veteran Emmpat, trained by Charlie Swan, which bolted up in the featured Crowne Plaza Leading Trainer & Jockey Championship Race.

Lee tracked the leader Dancera and, always travelling strongly, brought the twelve-year-old through to take command nearing the furlong-pole before driving Emmpat clear to score convincingly by four lengths. Swan’s versatile charge will ‘mix it’ over the summer months, with his immediate target either a handicap or novice chase at Aintree.

Lee had initiated his double when Casela Park, trained by Sean Treacy, made all to win the Fundraising Made Easy At Dundalk Stadium Handicap at the expense of favourite and recent course winner Banna Boirche.

Treacy said: “This fellow needs fast ground. That’s why he enjoys it around here and he’ll keep coming back until the ground firms up.”

Although not the same vintage as Emmpat, the Joanna Morgan-trained nine-year-old Jigalo, backed from 7/4 to 11/10, sent punters home happy when coming from well off the pace under Fran Berry to land the two-mile finale.

The winner is likely to revert to hurdling at Fairyhouse over Easter.

Banna Boirche’s trainer Michael Halford had enjoyed better luck in the opener when Desert Romance, ridden by champion apprentice Gary Carroll, got the better of front-running Parabola.