THERE was a special winner for Wesley Joyce at Dundalk on Wednesday afternoon, as he partnered Chavajod to victory for trainer Denis Coakley.

The Toronado gelding is part owned by Joseph Costello (with the trainer and Arthur Connick), who was the on-course doctor when Joyce took a horrific fall at Galway last year, which put him on the sidelines for over a year.

Costello, an anaesthetist in Galway, was also part of the team which cared for Joyce in ICU immediately after the accident.

It proved plain sailing for the 11/2 shot in the mile handicap, as he travelled well to lead under two furlongs from home and went on to post a two-and-a-quarter length win.

Coakley revealed afterwards: “It’s a special story. Joseph Costello was the doctor on duty at Galway the day Wesley got injured and he looked after him in hospital when he was in ICU. I freshened him up after he ran the last time. He was very good today.”

Double for Heffernan

Seamie Heffernan has been keeping himself busy at Dundalk in recent weeks and bagged a double on the card. The first came in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race when Port Augusta swooped late to make it two from two at the venue.

Heffernan got a good tune from the Willie Browne-trained Zoustar colt in the closing stages as he got up late on to pip English raider Finbar Furey by a neck in the seven-furlong contest.

Browne was represented by his brother Michael who said of the 10/3 winner: “It was a nice performance because the second is rated 95. We think he’s a very good horse, a good tough horse with a good attitude. We like him a lot. I’d say he’ll go further as well. He’ll probably be sold now. He’s a beautiful looking horse and he’s by the right sire as well.”

Double up

Heffernan went on to double up on the well-backed Jazzy Dancer in the second division of the six-furlong handicap.

The Willie Martin-trained and owned 5/4 favourite (as big as 5/1 in morning) soon led and never looked in danger in the closing stages as he posted a two-and-a-half length win over Zig Zag Zyggy.

The winner was led up by the trainer’s son Michael and Heffernan said: “I’ve actually been riding horses for his father since I was 16 and Mick rode a winner for Jim Bolger years ago.

“He promised me a winner and he told me tonight that he had more ability than these and if he gets to make the running he should win. I really enjoy every winner.”

The first division of the six-furlong handicap had produced a tighter finish as Theriverrunsdeep just held James Henry by a head after making all the running under Leigh Roche.

Trainer Seamus O’Donnell was leading up his charge and said afterwards: “It was a competitive little race there, she did it well and galloped to the line.

THE Ger Lyons-trained Sumptuary Law gained a valuable juvenile success when claiming the mile nursery in good style.

Colin Keane was prominent throughout on the Holy Roman Emperor filly and having gained a narrow lead two furlongs out she asserted inside the final furlong to beat Centuria by a length and a half.

Assistant Shane Lyons said: “She’s a very genuine filly and she was crying out for that trip.

“Fair play to (owner) Cian (Kennedy) who is our vet. We could have nearly stopped with her but Cian was adamant that we try and get a bracket for her at two.

“She’s got a good page and had a good update last year, when Cian bought her as a yearling, with her half-sister being placed twice in Grade 1s in the US. It helps for her to win at two.”

Sprang shock

The first juvenile winner on the card was the Andy Slattery-trained in the colours of Mrs P Harney.

Cian Horgan produced his mount to lead in the closing stages and gain a head victory over Sorrento Sky.

“We thought he was a nice two-year-old but he was disappointing one day in the north,” said Slattery.

“We ran him back here and Ben (Coen) said to put a tongue-tie on him. He was working well.

“He’s rated 63 and was in a handicap here last Wednesday but had a stone-bruise on the morning and we couldn’t run him. It’s just as well now.

“There is a winner’s race here in two weeks’ time so we might go for that.”

ANOTHER to strike at a big price was the John McConnell-trained Yokkell in the concluding 10-furlong handicap.

Siobhan Rutledge led narrowly a furlong from home on the 25/1 shot and she kept on gamely to record a neck victory over Storm Eric.

It was the Fast Company mare’s second run for the trainer and he said: “I haven’t had her that long and she was in great nick when I got her. She’s done it well and it looks like she’ll stay a mile and-a-half on that.

“We actually bought her to go hurdling and she’s a fun horse to have for next year,Q” he added of the Seamus Devlin-owned winner.

Hourigan retains claimer

Laura Hourigan was pleased to hold on to her Notforalongtime after his victory in the seven-furlong claimer.

The 2/1 favourite dug deep to fight off Monzoon in the closing stages and record a head victory under Oisin McSweeney.

Hourigan, who claimed back the winner, said: “He did it well. There aren’t too many races for him so I had to come here for this.

“Oisin was very good on him, he did exactly what I asked him, and I’m delighted. He’s paying his way and he enjoys the surface.”