Halford starts New Year in great form

Trainer Michael Halford started the New Year at Dundalk in superb form last night, completing a 105/1 treble with Settle For Red, Victors Beach and Senyuman, ridden by apprentices Conor Hoban and Shane Kelly respectively, deputising for suspended stable-jockey Shane Foley.

On a night when Halford worked two of his team for Dubai, Dabadiyan and Banna Boirche before racing, the consistent but previously luckless Settle For Red belatedly opened his account when justifying 13/8 favouritism in the first division of the one-mile 47-65 handicap.

Dropping significantly in trip, the four-year-old Redback colt responded in typically determined style to Hoban’s strong handling to get the better of Cristy’s Call by a half-length. Halford stated: “He has sharpened up and is showing more pace at home and in his races, so he coped with the drop in trip. He’s a tough and very genuine horse and will come back here.”