Sharalam justifies strong market support

In-form trainer Paul Deegan nominated the listed Alleged Stakes (at the Curragh on April 22) as the immediate target for Sharalam following his success in the thetote.com Maiden in Dundalk last night.

Strongly supported all day and sent off 5/4 favourite, the Alamshar gelding knuckled down well for Kevin Manning to beat Sli Na Fiarana by a length to the delight of Deegan. “We’ve always thought a good bit of him and felt it was worth waiting when he had a few niggly problems. He’ll appreciate another couple of furlongs and might be a stakes horse — we’ll probably try him in the Alleged Stakes at the Curragh next.”

Fran Berry, who recorded a double o his first day back after injury last week, was on the mark again when Akasaka (backed from 5/2 in the morning and sent off 10/11) registered his second win at Dundalk in the thetote.com Claiming Race.