Nice Day for Simmonson
Simmonson, 23, from Kildare town, worked for Mick Easterby and Tony Carroll in England before weight problems caused him to take a break.
Now based with Have A Nice Day’s trainer Sabrina Harty on the Curragh, he was recording his first win on home soil, pouncing on the inside to beat Shabra Emperor.
Harty said: “He’s an ultra-consistent horse, but was robbed by the draw here the last night. He deserves a little holiday now. And it’s a great start for David on only his second ride back — he’s working with us now.”
Hat Alnasar continued Michael Halford’s fine strikerate in maidens over the winter season when making all under Conor Hoban to justify 5/6 favouritism in the Elusive Pimpernel Median Auction Maiden.
Pipped by Song Of Love last time and dropping in trip, the Moss Vale colt edged left at the furlong-pole, shutting the door on Maronella (a first ride for apprentice (Denis Linehan), before running on to triumph by three-quarters of length.
A Stewards Enquiry followed, but no change was made to the judges’ placings.
Hoban said: “He has a lovely action and enjoys the surface here. He did it well and is improving. And he’s a colt to look forward to on the grass.”
Seven times champion Pat Smullen registered his first win of 2015 in Ireland when partnering Tomorrow Morning to a gutsy all-the-way win in the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap, the Lawman filly which Ted Walsh trains for his wife Helen, holding Clutchingatstraws by a short-head.
Walsh said: “It’s Pat’s first winner for me in 20 years, since he won a nursery in Galway on Dunemer — it was the year he was champion apprentice (1995).
“This filly has been knocking on the door and had a chance. And she might come here again.”
Successful at Naas last July but without a polytrack win in almost two years, Almadaa landed the opening five-furlong Floodlit Friday Nights Handicap for Davis Marnane and Connor King, pipping favourite Strategic Heights by a short-head with Bubbly Bellini a close third.
“I was in front plenty soon enough but, on this horse, you have to get the revs up,” saidmitted King.
Fran Berry, rider of the runner-up, picked-up a one-day whip ban.
Marnane and King completed a double when Settle For Red produced a fine, battling display to make all in the second division of the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap, keeping Manorov at bay by a half-length.
There was no joy for Joanna Morgan with her last two runners before handing in her trainer’s licence, although Balmont Flyer made a gallant bid to give her a farewell win in the first division of the 47-65.
Smullen’s mount, however, had to give best to the strong late surge of the Ronan Whelan-ridden Cristy’s Call, a second winner in two days for trainer Gavin Cromwell.
Austin Leahy savoured his first flat win since 2012 when Loyalty Card, the 33/1 outsider of the six runners, ridden by Wayne Lordan, won the Dundalk Stadium Light Up Your Night Maiden at the expense of front-running favourite Holy Water.
The Daylami filly will now go hurdling.
And Poitin, successful three times for Harry Dunlop and having her second run for Keith Clarke, captured the finale, the Race & Dine St Dundalk Handicap under apprentice Robbie Downey, foiling Eye Of The Tiger to give her trainer a rare flat success.
