Variety of interesting stories unfold following an action packed card at Dundalk
An action shot from racing at the track in Dundalk. (Pic: Sportsfile)
Dundalk’s meeting last week once again produced a rich variety of stories.
The card began with a smooth success for Sam’s Xpress (10/3 fav) in the Happy St Patrick’s Weekend Handicap. The three-year-old gelding soon led in the race and never looked like being headed, eventually running out a 3.75-length winner under Oisin McSweeney.
Winning trainer Kieren Cotter said: “He has loads of boot – piles of it – but he had sore shins last year. He might run at Naas (on March 26th). We’ll see what the handicapper does with him.”
As things turned out, he was the only winning favourite on the eight-race card, although four winners were returned at 4/1 or shorter.
These included Alemandares (3/1), who followed up his maiden success at Dundalk on March 3rd with a half-length success in the Bet In-Play on Racing with BetVictor Race.
It was an improved effort from the three-year-old gelded son of Havana Grey as he had finished three-and-a-half lengths behind tonight’s third, Vanguard Star, when they met over course-and-distance on February 17th.
Trained by Andy Slattery, owned by his wife Sharon, and ridden by his son Andrew, this victory was a real family affair. The winner may now be sold, with the trainer saying, “He’s getting better. There was interest in him from Hong Kong during the week, so we’ll see.”
Once again, the influence of Dundalk upon the international market for horse sales was in evidence.
As was the ongoing success of trainer John McConnell. His winner Make The Switch (4/1), who was ridden by his son Cillian, came in the Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race & Stay Package Claiming Race, and followed on from his success with the Ben Harvey-ridden Seddon in the £120,000 Magners Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival earlier that day.
Success at the Cheltenham Festival is a feather in the cap of any trainer. For good measure, John has now had a winner at each of the last three Dundalk meetings and eight in total this year at the stadium.
It was also a red-letter day for apprentice jockey Emma Murphy, who rode her first winner (on just her eighth ride) when Akmaam (10/1) landed the card’s finale for Curragh-based trainer Johnny Levins. The winner is owned by Emma’s mother Gail.
Emma, who is 18 and hails from Kilcullen, County Kildare, said afterwards: “I’ve been riding horses all my life and am from a show-jumping background. This is great for the whole family and is an incredible feeling. Johnny has been incredible to me from day one.”
Also tasting success on the eight-race card was another Curragh trainer, Bill Farrell, and apprentice Neve Bennett, who secured her sixth career success when S’all Good Man (13/2) won the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap.
“He’s genuine, has a big stride and likes to bowl along,” said Neve after the relatively lightly raced seven-year-old, who is owned and was jointly bred by Gary Davis, had gained his second career success, both wins having come over today’s distance of 12 furlongs at Dundalk.
There was an international flavour to the night when South African jockey Mpumelelo Mjoka partnered Fleetfootsoldier (12/1) to success on what was his first ride in Ireland.
Winning trainer Kevin Coleman said, “This lad’s a good rider. He’s had 80-something winners and the standard in South Africa is quite good. He and (fellow South African) Calvin Ngcobo have been with me for about a month.”
Having been narrowly denied over the ten-furlong, 150-yard trip at Dundalk on February 24th, Neverfindanother U (7/2), who is owned and was bred by Leo Reilly, got home by half-a-length in the Easter Week Racing 11th and 14th April At Dundalk Handicap in the hands of promising apprentice Robert Whearty.
Winning trainer Tom Gibney, who is based in Trim, County Meath, said afterwards: “She’s improving with her racing. I’m delighted for Leo as she is a home-bred filly. She handles cut in the ground and we are looking forward to running her now on grass.”
Another trainer who is in good form is James McAuley, who is based in Naul, County Dublin. He registered his fourth winner from the last three Dundalk meetings when Tai Sing Yeh (13/2) won the Bet On The Gold Cup With BetVictor Handicap in the hands of Joey Sheridan.
For good measure, James was also responsible for the runner-up, Inflection Point.
He said afterwards: “Joey is brilliant at front-running rides, he really is. The only way (to win today) was to be aggressive and play ‘catch me if you can’.” On this occasion they couldn’t, and the stable’s fine form continued.
Dundalk will race again on Friday March 24th, with the first race being due off at 4.50pm.
The fixture, which is being sponsored by Sky Bet, will carry €131,000 in prize money and will be contested by horses that have run at Dundalk at least once between November 9th 2022 and March 16th 2023. It promises to be a very good night of racing.
