Johnson gives Dundalk a big thumbs up

LEADING British trainer Mark Johnston gave Dundalk a strong thumbs-up after watching his Below Zero make all to land the Bar One Racing Handicap over six furlongs at the County Louth track yesterday.

On his first visit to the track, Johnston declared: “It’s my first time here and I’ll definitely be back. It’s a lovely track, with good viewing and, with the prizemoney so bad at home, you’ll definitely see lots of my horses here in the future.”

The Middleham trainer was speaking after Below Zero bounced out of the stalls and dominated his rivals throughout, en route to a facile four lengths win over the Ger Lyons-trained favourite The Reaper, with another British raider, Bajan Tryst, in third.