Seamus Heffernan out of the doldrums with a Dundalk double
Runner-up to Don’t Be in a listed event over course and distance last time, but an uneasy 4/7 favourite, the lightly-raced Galileo filly Façade earned a valuable winning bracket when proving two lengths superior to market rival Eagle Valley in the one-mile Big Bad Bob Fillies Maiden. She had to be hard ridden to challenge but, ultimately, won emphatically.
Heffernan, who partnered the filly to victory for his boss Aidan O’Brien, explained: “I was on the best horse in the race. It was a steering-job and she won like a favourite should.
“She’s a filly with a lot of ability, with a big engine. She’s had a few little problems, but she should keep improving.”
In-form Denis Hogan provided Heffernan with his first winner when Tithonus, a sixteen-race maiden, landed a gamble in the opening six-furlong handicap. Tithonus raced prominently throughout before holding Missile Command by a half-length, justifying support which saw his price contract from 8/1 in the morning to 7/2 joint-favourite.
Heffernan commented: “I had no plan, but he jumped well and stayed at it well when other horse came at him. He’s been a bit disappointing but is beginning to get it together and might win another.”
Just three went to post for the one-mile nursery and victory went to 8/11 favourite Dodgybingo, trained by Noel Meade for long-time patrons Finbarr and Mairead Cahill, for whom he enjoyed tremendous success with Pinch Hitter at the Galway festival in the early ‘80s. Ridden by Fran Berry, the Roderic O’Connor gelding wore down front-running Hint Of Frost before holding the late effort of Zig Zag, short of room on the inside at a crucial stage, by three-quarters of a length.
Meade explained: “He’s my first two-year-old winner in a long time.
“He had three runs early in the season, but pulled a muscle and had to be given a break. But he has done well since the middle of the summer. He’s still very green and was looking around a bit tonight. He should develop into a nice dual-purpose horse next year – he has plenty of size.”
Champion-jockey Pat Smullen was on the mark when the Tim Doyle-trained Northern Surprise, having his first run on the polytrack, swooped inside the final furlong to foil favourite Hat Alnasar in the rated race. “He appreciates soft ground and, because the track here is riding a bit easier this year, I thought we’d take a chance that he’d handle it,” commented Doyle.
