Cleary makes most of Manning’s absence

WITH stable-jockey Kevin Manning on duty in Dubai (he rode Hurricane Havoc to finish fourth in the Group 2 Cape Verdi yesterday), Rory Cleary proved an able deputy when providing Jim Bolger with a double, on Heir To The Mint and General Bunching at Dundalk last night.

Heir To The Mint, in the colours of Mrs June Judd, made all to win the second division of the Irish Stablestaff Association emphatically from Knights Templar, prompting Cleary to explain: “He broke well and enjoyed himself in front. He travelled, picked-up off the turn and kept at it. He’s been knocking on the door and it’s a relief that he got his head in front at last.”

Cleary adopted very different tactics on General Bunching, which came from well off a strong pace to win the Follow Dundalk On Facebook Handicap (Division 1) convincingly from Word For Word. He later picked-up a one-day careless riding ban.