Boynagh brings more joy to Halpin
The James Halpin-trained mare was recording her fourth win since mid-September and grabbed this valuable black type success despite rider Sean Levey being unable to claim his 5lb. allowance.
And, having watched the five-year-old come through with a storming challenge inside the final furlong to beat Barring Decree by a half-length, Halpin admitted: “I’m surprised, but not shocked. She has improved so much over the last couple of months that we didn’t know she’d cope with the leap from handicap into listed class.
“She’s probably better around here than anywhere else and is a real battler. Sean has won on her twice now and gave her a great ride tonight. She’s finished for the season now. She could stay in training, or go to stud. Or, who knows, she could be sold now, after picking up this black type.”
Reigning apprentice champion Gary Carroll joined arch-rival Ben Curtis on the 36-winner mark for the season when morning gamble Kirstys Boy, trained by Shane Broderick, scraped home a narrow winner from the unlucky Miss Martinstown in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Handicap.
“That was hard work,” said Carroll. “We were struggling a long way from home. He’s had plenty of racing and is getting a bit cute. I’ll be suggesting to Shane to put blinkers on him the next day.”
The John Oxx-trained Dubawi Star, having his fourth outing but experiencing the Dundalk surface for the first time, produced a spectacular display to land the www.dundalkstadium.com Median Auction 2-Y-0 Maiden in the hands of Fran Berry.
Always close up, the Dubawi colt edged ahead at the two furlong pole and responded to Berry’s driving early in the final furlong to surge clear for an emphatic four lengths victory over the Pat Smullen-ridden favourite Flic Flac.
Berry, who was recording his 84th win of the season, declared, “That was a good performance. He loved the surface and is improving with racing.” "
Frustrating to follow for much of the season, the Eddie Lynam-trained Denny Crane notched his second win when bursting clear inside the final furlong to beat Carlito Brigante and favourite Force Of Habit in the bookings@dundalkstadium.com Rated Race.
Denied a clear run until the furlong-pole, the Red Ransom gelding quickened impressively to seal victory.
Declan McDonogh was seen at his enterprising best when making all to win the Christmas Parties At Dundalk Handicap on 14/1 shot Elusive Ridge, trained for the Nap Racing Syndicate by Harry Rogers.
The four-year-old Elusive City gelding dictated the pace, poached a clear lead early in the straight and stayed on resolutely under McDonogh’s driving to triumph convincingly from Carazam, denying big race hero Sean Levey a double.
Shane Foley, whose season was interrupted by injury, registered his first win since mid-August when he produced the Noel Meade-trained Little Bug with a well-timed late challenge to foil Sports Casual and Pat Smullen in the concluding Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Package Handicap.
Earlier, apprentice Same James landed the opening six-furlong nursery on Madeira Man, trained by his boss Kevin Prendergast.
The grey son of Verglas had to squeeze through a gap to deliver his challenge and kept going well for James, despite hanging left, to beat Vastitas by a neck with favourite The Reaper third.
