TOSEN Wish (9/4 favourite) overcame an absence since October 2021AV to rattle home in the Dundalk Winter Series Leading Trainer And Jockey Championship Handicap. Furthermore, he had switched from Takashi Kodama to Joseph O’Brien and was up in trip to seven furlongs, with a tongue-strap fitted.
From fifth over a furlong out, he found plenty to lead inside the final furlong and stuck to his task well, as he hit the line three quarters of a length to the good. Jockey Hugh Horgan, in Takaya Shimakawa’s colours, said: “He was green and behind the bridle and a little bit lazy, but he came home very well, in fairness, and picked up well for me. Another furlong no harm at all, he hit the line very strong.”
Tosen Wish won over an extended five furlongs when last seen in Navan.
Eddie Lynam and owner Sabena Power have enjoyed many great days together on the track and teamed up to land the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Maiden with Bonny Power.
The 11/1 shot made headway a quarter of a mile from home and progressed to lead in the final furlong. She kept on well to win by a length and a half in the hands of Chris Hayes.
Lynam said: “I thought last year she was going to be okay and she would win. Then she disappointed a few times here over six.
“She was second in Down Royal (in September) behind Willie McCreery’s horse (Ocean Jewel) who would be a blacktype horse and we were hoping she could return to that run.”
Musical Rhapsody (7/1) continued Gavin Cromwell’s golden run as she stayed on best to take the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Handicap over a mile and a half.
Gary Carroll positioned her in mid-division and the pair were closer in the final two furlongs. They worked their way to the front in the final furlong and had three quarters of a length to spare over 3/1 favourite Gracesolution.
Carroll said: “She’s a very tough filly and tries hard. The last time she ran a bit flat and she probably just needed freshening up, and we freshened her up and it worked today.”
The winner took the honours for owners Mrs Helen Keaveney and Mark Keaveney.
GER Lyons’ Cooler got off the mark in good style in the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Maiden for three-year-olds. The Frankel filly led, but was headed after a couple of furlongs by the free-running Marino Point. Colin Keane was content to sit behind this colt and sent her past him with over three furlongs to race.
The 5/4 favourite kicked on a furlong out and came home two and three quarter lengths clear for Juddmonte. Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “It was imperative that she won her maiden being by what she is by, and she is well-bred. Her biggest attribute is she wears her heart on her sleeve, she is very, very genuine.”
Business end
Rockview Consort snapped a trio of runner-up finishes when winning the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Maiden with Siobhán Rutledge in the plate for Rockview Stables. The 3/1 favourite was challenged at the business end by Banned, but stayed on best to beat her by three quarters of a length.
John McConnell said: “She probably wants further, she is probably a mile-and-a-half filly but we said we would have another crack at this trip (extended mile and a quarter). It is great to get the win and she will go on turf as well. She will also jump, she has schooled very well.”
PAT Martin was delighted to join forces with Jack Kearney to scoop division one of the Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race And Stay Handicap with Indiana Grey. The 8/1 shot ran on well for Kearney in the final furlong to post a two-and-a-quarter-length success for owner Raymond C. Moore.
Martin said: “Jack got her away well, she travelled really well today and as well as I’d ever seen her travel, and picked up great. I’m so pleased for Jack, he was with me when he was a 12-year-old and they lived in Navan for a long time and then they moved to Castletown and he went to ride out for Noel Meade. I’ve been giving him a good few spins lately and that’s his first winner for me.”
Comfortable victory
Circles (8/1) got off the mark at the 14th time of asking in the second division of the Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race & Stay Handicap. Seamie Heffernan sent her to the front a furlong out and the duo went on by four lengths for a comfortable victory.
“A big thanks to the owner (Mrs Kathleen Smyth) for sticking with her. A lot of people would have pulled out. They were consistent enough runs, but she wasn’t getting there,” said trainer Anthony McCann.
Tai Sing Yeh took full advantage of stall one to make all for Colin Keane in the Join On Instagram @dundalk_stadium Handicap. The nine-year-old gelding sailed home by a length and a half at 16/1 for owner/trainer James McAuley.
“It was a welcome winner. The horses were working well at home, but I couldn’t get a placed horse in December,” said McAuley. “We ended up checking everything and all their lungs were badly inflamed. We are literally just coming back, Colin said that lad had a blow as well. Everything we are running now is having a blow. We had a second and a third today as well, so it is grand to get one over the line.”