CHICLET continued her love affair with Dundalk when recording her fifth course and distance victory in the feature event on the all-weather on Tuesday.
The Tracey Collins-trained filly once again burned off her rivals when landing the five-furlong Marshes Handicap in the colours of Tony Donnelly.
Pat Smullen’s mount travelled strongly at the head of affairs turning for home and the 7/2 favourite only had to be pushed out in the closing stages to record a cosy two and three quarter-length victory.
“I’m delighted. It’s a relief as we haven’t had a winner in a while so I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Collins.
“She’s very good up here. She loves going around a bend and handles it well. Pat gave her a super ride. She has gotten a bit buzzy but went down well.
“The hood definitely helped. She has only gotten buzzy on her last two starts and got very upset at the Curragh. The ground was also very soft there. She’s become a real sprinter. She has two ways of going, walking and flat out.
“We’ll probably step up into a listed race now. She always has a gap between her races and I was a bit apprehensive coming back here after two weeks.
“She was in good form so we let her take her chance. If it had been anywhere else she wouldn’t have run but this is her track.”
There was a double on the card for Declan McDonogh and he kicked off proceedings with a positive ride on Specific Gravity in the opening Coral BestPrice Guaranteed Claiming Race.
The well-backed 3/1 shot (from 6/1 in morning) was soon sent into the lead and Ado McGuinness’ charge, in the colours of Hazel McGuinness, kept on strongly in the straight to record a comprehensive three and a half- length victory.
“He just seems to enjoy it up here. He had a good draw and Declan was able to boss it a bit from the front,” said McGuinness.
“He was a little slow away but he soon got him up there and gave him a serious spin. He has a good high cruising speed. It’s great to have claimers for horses like him as he struggles a bit in handicaps.
“He’s been a lot more consistent this year. Everyone told me he wanted soft ground when I got him and I think he actually won on soft for Henry Cecil.
“If he’s not claimed he could go to Bellewstown for another claimer next Monday or to Leopardstown on the Thursday.”
McDonogh had to work harder on My Fantasea (7/4) as the John Oxx-trained colt completed the brace in the Coral.ie Paying 7 Places In The Open Maiden.
The son of Sea The Stars, in the colours of his breeders Sunderland Holdings Inc, was driven into the lead over a furlong from home but was strongly pressed by newcomer Zamira in the closing stages and was all out to gain a head verdict.
“He enjoyed the surface and also enjoyed the step up in trip. He’ll go the handicap route now,” said assistant Jimmy ‘Slim’ O’Neill afterwards.
There was also a tight finish to the Coral.ie Bet 5 Get 20 In Free Bets Maiden with the Kevin Prendergast-trained Waarif just getting the nod from the judge.
The 15/8 joint-favourite fought it out with Aidan O’Brien’s Schubert inside the final furlong and was just ahead by a nose at the line to gain the day under Chris Hayes in the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum.
GENUINE
“He’s very genuine. We freshened him up after Navan and the boss was adamant a drop back in trip should suit him. He’s probably right judged on that,” said Hayes.
“He gave a blow a furlong out and I think there is a bit of improvement in him as long as the handicapper doesn’t cripple him.”
It was a day of tight finishes and Park Row (12/1) gained his victory in the concluding Coral.ie Bet & Watch Racing Live Handicap by just a short-head in the colours of the John Feane Partnership.
John Feane’s charge hit the front under two furlongs from home, under Gary Halpin, but was all out late on as Zorba The Greek charged home from the rear.
“He’s been a bit disappointing so it’s grand to get a win out of him,” said Feane. “He’ll probably go to Galway for a mile and a half and we’ll see how we get on there.”
The Tommy Stack-trained Victorious Secret (12/1) also had to be brave to gain the day in the Coral.ie Money Back Beaten A Length Handicap earlier on the card.
Killian Leonard’s mount travelled smoothly into the straight but had to wait for a gap between horses with over a furlong to run as the leaders came together.
The 12/1 shot got on top in the closing stages to record a hard-fought neck victory over Yamatao.
“She had to be brave. I think she likes the hustle and bustle,” said Leonard. “I’d say that’s her trip. She won over five her last year but is older and more mature now and wants a bit further.”
Keukenhof swooped from last to first to open her account in the Coral.ie Download The App Apprentice Handicap.
Ross Coakley got a good tune from the 16/1 in the final furlong as she pegged back War Room close home for a length victory.
Johnny Murtagh, who trains the filly for Martin McHale, said afterwards: “She missed the kick in Bellewstown too and Conor (King) said then she was still very green. She’s a slow learner.
“Maybe she didn’t like the really soft ground in Bellewstown where I thought she’d run well.
“She ran well here in a maiden earlier in the year and probably likes the surface. She’s on the improve hopefully.”
ACTING STEWARDS
L. McFerran, P. Caffrey, A. Byrne, D. McCorkell, P.W. Murtagh
HORSE TO FOLLOW
ZAMIRA (D.K. Weld): She was just held on her debut in the 10-furlong maiden and should be opening her account before long.