Blue Ridge Lane© Photo Healy Racing
The rogues gallery at Tramore contains many's the mugshot and while possibly unfair to place Blue Right Lane in that category, the gelding's seventh career win, in the Assembly Techniques Weekend Jolly Handicap, was in no small part due to the idiosyncrasies of the racecourse.
The ex-Dermot Weld trained gelding has shown a tendency to begin slowly in his races in recent times and at Galway last month missed the break completely.
However with no stalls in operation at the seaside venue, the eight year old, under Shane Foley, enjoyed a jolly time of it when bouncing away smartly and making all for a two and a half lengths win over Shamar
Afterwards winning trainer John McConnell stated “no stalls made the difference and it was a great ride by Shane who literally changed the tactics on me about sixty seconds before he got on the horse. He said to 'trust me' so I did!
“He (Blue Ridge Lane) enjoyed himself, got an easy lead and he quickened up. He has more natural speed than my other filly (Sheilas Wish, third) and she just kept going the one pace. It was just a great ride by Shane and he's a dinger of a horse. I’ll try and win a handicap hurdle with him now."
Quotes from Donal Murphy
