Sir Les Patterson can deliver first stakes success for Jack Kearney
Sir Les Patterson has had two victories at Dundalk. Pic: Healy Racing
Jack Kearney, who rode out his claim at the Curragh last week, might bag his first stakes-race success as a fully fledged professional on board Sir Les Patterson in the Group 3 Bar 1 Betting Mercury Stakes in Dundalk tonight.
Trained by Stephen Thorne, Sir Les Patterson, a five-year-old Zoustar gelding, has recorded each of his five career successes on artificial surfaces, scoring at Kempton, Southwell and Wolverhampton for Harry Eustace and twice at Dundalk for his current handler.
His handicap wins on Dundalk’s polytrack were registered last winter, off marks of 90 and 99. And, having failed to make his mark in some of our top sprint handicaps this summer, he ran a cracker back at Dundalk last time when, sent off favourite and having struggled to get a clear run, he finished well and got within a half-length of stable-companion Kerdos in a five-furlong conditions event.
Surprisingly, that was Sir Les Patterson’s first outing over the minimum trip. And, with better luck in running, this 101-rated gelding is expected to reverse that form, which should give him every chance.
There will be plenty of pace in the race. And Kearney will, hopefully, produce Sir Les Patterson with a telling late surge.
Cases can be made for plenty of his 12 rivals, including the sole two-year-old This Moment, one of three British challengers.
Trained by George Boughey, Grace McEntee’s mount completed a hat-trick at Newcastle, Thirsk and Chester before finishing fifth in the recent ‘Cornwallis’ at Newmarket.
Elsewhere on the Dundalk card, Henry de Bromhead’s Premier View, winner of a maiden and nursery in Down Royal, might complete a hat-trick in the five-furlong nursery.
And The Captains Day, who has shown signs of ability in some hot maidens won by Ballydoyle colts, might defy a wide draw for Michael O’Callaghan in the one-mile two-year-old maiden.
Meanwhile, Sligo stages its final meeting of 2026 this afternoon, with the Ciaran Murphy-trained Puppet Master making plenty of appeal in the Abbey Haven Care Centre Hurdle.
A classy flat performer for Aidan O’Brien, this fellow won his maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan before finishing second at Perth and has since run creditably twice on the flat, including a solid third to Contortion in the Amateur Derby at the Curragh on Tuesday.
Highest-rated of the five runners, and with Eoghan Finegan claiming 5lb, he should prove tough to beat.
12.50 Baby Pearl
1.25 Puppet Master (n.b.)
2.00 Bella Union
2.35 Andyourbirdcansing
3.10 High Kick Kev
3.45 You Make Me Smile
4.20 Union Station
4.55 Ilbdare
12.50 Ronnie’s Rascal
1.25 Combs
2.00 Parlognan
2.35 Bowgate Street
3.10 Gunnery Sergeant
3.45 Larkins Lane
4.20 Its Time For A Run
4.55 Mickey Cohen
5.15 River Trieux
5.45 Iff In Doubt
6.15 Blue Anthem
6.45 Premier View
7.15 Sir Les Patterson
7.45 The Captains Day (Nap)
8.15 Testeverde
Next Best
5.15 Eleanor Shelby
5.45 Eichan San
6.15 Boston Max
6.45 Lake Lugano
7.15 Washington Heights
7.45 Astroway
8.15 Sakoku
