Mick Halford© Photo Healy Racing
Michael Halford will secure the Crowne Plaza Leading Trainer Award once again at Dundalk this evening after a wonderful year that has seen him send out 18 winners at the County Louth venue. The Curragh-trainer has ten runners on the card tonight and cannot be overhauled as his nearest challenger, Ger Lyons, is not represented at the final Flat meeting of the year.
Aidan O’Brien has enjoyed 13 winners at Dundalk in 2015 and looks set to take third place in the championship ahead of David Marnane who has a tally of 11 winners. Andy Oliver has won eight races at Dundalk this year with Tracey Collins, Johnny Levins and Tommy Stack all on the seven winner mark.
The jockey’s title remains up for grabs with seven races open to the venue’s leading riders tonight. Colin Keane heads the way with 21 winners, but both Fran Berry (19) and Shane Foley (18) could catch him with a good night. While Keane has five rides, Berry has six and appears to have better chances with the likes of Great Wide Open in the opening race, In Her Stride in the first division of the seven furlong maiden and Presenting Julio in the 12-furlong maiden at 8.00.
Shane Foley has shared much of his success at Dundalk with Michael Halford and he too has six rides on the final night of the year. Ebasani gives him a chance in the opening race while Maskoon will be among the fancied runners in the finale. Third on the jockey’s list is Pat Smullen with 17 winners, while Connor King has 15 winners to his name. Others in double figures for the year were Wayne Lordan on the 14 winner mark while Billy Lee has 12 winners to his name with Ronan Whelan one behind on 11. Both Donnacha O’Brien and Gary Carroll rode 10 winners at Dundalk in 2015 going into the final meeting.
