The Dundalk Racing Club, formed over eighteen years ago and by far the oldest such venture in this country, had their colours carried to victory at Clonmel yesterday when Tempter justified slight odds-on favouritism in the twelve furlong maiden.
Providing Curragh trainer John Oxx with his eighth success of the current campaign, the In The Wings Colt needed all the assistance of Fran Berry's urgings to collar Crusset well inside the final furlong to supply the club with 'over 50 winners', according to a spokesman.
'He'll run in a handicap over 1m6f or 2m as he needs to get his toe in,' said assistant Jim O'Neill of the 4yo, one of 3 horses in training with Oxx owned by the successful club.
Paddy Mullins completed a double at the meeting sparked off with Serenely and David Casey, who survived a mistake at the last to narrowly defeat outsider Lady Willmurt in the beginners chase. Half-an-hour later it was the turn of Torose to oblige with Robert Power aboard in the two-and-half mile maiden hurdle.
David Casey later completed a 77/1 brace when he scored on Anonymity in the 2m handicap hurdle resulting in eleven winners of the Jackpot worth E2,106 apiece.
Earlier, import Evening Scent, a #7,000 Doncaster Sales purchase and a winner four times in Britain stole a march on his rivals under Tadgh O'Shea to win the 12f handicap.
Bookmakers got another result in the opening 10f handicap when another 14/1 shot Jerez drew right away from the 2f pole under Gordon 'Flash' Power to score for Jeremy Harley, who has a string of 14 at his Curragh base this term.
'It wasn't a surprise as she was working well but she worked well also last season and ran abysmally,' said Harley afterwards.
