Wayne Lordan times it just right on Reckless Lad at Dundalk
The tough five-year-old provided Wayne Lordan with the second leg of a double, initiated on Aspen Mountain.
“Wayne gave him a lovely ride – he got there at just the right time,” said a delighted Martin, who added: “We felt the fast pace would suit him and he travelled really well through the race.”
Martin acknowledged: “The surface here was a bit quick for him last year, but it’s a bit easier now. He tends to stop in front – I don’t know whether he idles or gets outstayed. This was a nice pot tonight and everything worked out well.
An eye-catcher on his debut at Gowran Park and well-backed all day, the David Wachman-trained Aspen Mountain landed the seven-furlong Big Bad Bob 2-Y-0 Maiden, providing Wayne Lordan with the first leg of his double. The Canford Cliffs colt prevailed over Hasselnott and fast-finishing favourite Red Rannagh in a blanket-finish.
“He had a nice first run when he was a bit weak and David gave him a chance and time to strengthen,” explained Lordan. “He’s a nice colt and we felt he’d have no problem winning a maiden around here. He’s still weak, but he’s a colt we like and look forward to seeing him on the grass next season.”
Peticoatgovernment, a Holy Roman Emperor filly trained by Willie McCreery, made it third time lucky under Billy Lee in the opening two-year-old fillies maiden, getting the better of Multiviz by a length.
“She’s a grand filly and, although we weren’t keen to come here with her, we decided she’d either win or get handicapped for next year,” explained McCreery.
The filly carries the colours of the trainer’s wife Amanda but McCreery explained, “She’s owned by a syndicate which includes Richie Dunne, who played football with me years ago, but we didn’t get the colours registered in time.”
On his first visit to Dundalk’s polytrack, the well-backed Chestnut Fire captured the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Handicap for Michael Halford and Shane Foley, beating Split The Atom emphatically by a length.
Halford explained: “He’s a replacement for Paul (Rooney) for Alvor, which had to be retired. It was all new to him here, his first time under the lights, and he looked around a bit.
“But he’s a grand, genuine, straight-forward horse and was always doing enough in front. He loved the surface and seven furlongs is a good trip for him. Paul should have plenty of fun with him.”
