Dalton delivers first double

THE Limerick Christmas Festival of 2011 will live long in the memory of New Ross youngster Ben Dalton who rode the first double of his career and his fourth winner in as many days at Greenmount Park yesterday.

Conor O’Dwyer’s Folsom Blue (2/5) was given a ride befitting his short-odds in the opener. However, Essexbridge’s mistake at the last helped tilt the balance in the ‘jollies’ favour. Dalton’s mount went on to scorepretty convincingly in any case,crossing the line two and a half lengths to the good.

It was Dwyer’s old mentor Mouse Morris that supplied Dalton with his second win. There were a couple of bang-in-form contenders in the shape of Fahamore and Cloughmile for the two and a quarter mile handicap hurdle, but they were upstaged by Morris’ Beckett Rock.