Another Dundalk double for Bolger
Having shown improvement when second to Lord Kenmare last week, four-year-old Naoise — owned by the trainer’s wife Jackie — got off the mark when justifying 11/4 favouritism in the first division of the Irish Stablestaff Assocationa Handicap, getting the better of Forbidden City inside the final furlong.
Gort Na |Mona, runner-up to Prince Of Fire two weeks ago, earned a valuable winning bracket when completing the Bolger/Manning double in the concluding bookings@dundalkstadium.com Maiden.
But the American-bred filly, sent off 10/11 favourite, needed all of Manning’s strength to get home by a short-head from Passion Planet after a spirited tussle.
The Tommy Stack-trained Kedleston, which landed a substantial gamble here three weeks ago, defied a 14lb. hike in the ratings when following-up in the six-runner Leucillin Horseware Ireland Handicap.
Ridden again by Wayne Lordan, the 2/1 favourite tracked Tawariyka, challenged two furlongs out and, soon in front, kept going well to beat Roman General by two lengths, prompting Lordan to explain: “They went a bit slow early on, but he picked up well and has a good attitude. He seems to like this surface.”
Still in racing exile from Britain, Derry-born Fergal Lynch recorded his fourth win at Dundalk when pouncing late on the David Marnane trained Cool Athlete to foil the flattering Elwazeer in the Winter Racing At Dundalk Handicap, before commenting: “He’s a bit of a character, but enjoys being covered up and getting involved in a tussle.”
Michael Halford, on his way back from Dubai, missed seeing 10/11 favourite Danick Of Time, strongly ridden by promising apprentice Conor Hoban, make all to land the Horseware.com Apprentice Maiden over persistent challengers Casimir Road and Atmospheric High.
Trainer Eddie Lynam seldom leaves Dundalk empty-handed and saddled first and second in the Group Bookings At Dundalk Rated Race when, having travelled sweetly throughout, the Sam James ridden Aragorn Rouge came through to get the better of front-running stable-companion Solid Air, building on his maiden defeat of Danick Of Time last time.
Veteran Copper Dock, trained by Tom McCourt and strongly ridden by Joseph O’Brien, scraped home a short-head winner over the consistent but luckless Rigid Rock in the opening, five-furlong www.dundalksatdium.com Handicap. It was the eight-year-old’s fifth win at Dundalk.
* In the Stewards Room, Colin Keane was banned for three days for careless riding on Knockgraffon Lad in the Winter Racing At Dundalk Handicap while both Pat Smullen (on Elusive Express) and Conor Hoban (That’s A Fret) picked-up one-day whip bans.
