Your Pal Tal and Donagh O'Connor© Photo Healy Racing
A course winner at Dundalk back in December 2012 when with Tommy Stack, Your Pal Tal got his name on the score-sheet for the second time when triumphant in the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap for Johnny Levins and Donagh O'Connor.
This success was looking likely for a while after a series of near misses and the Dark Angel gelding was never far away, leading a furlong out, on his way to a one and three parts and a one and a quarter length victory over fellow market-leaders, Majestic Timeline and Strategic Heights
"Start as you mean to go on!" exclaimed Levins.
"I've been trying to make him into a sprinter and he's starting to learn how to gallop at speed. It's all about getting balanced.
"He stumbled out of the stalls and cut his hip. Donagh was very good on him and kept him balanced.
"I'm looking forward to running him on the turf and I think he could run in one of those big handicaps if he keeps improving.
"I'm delighted to get that out of the way and it's onwards and upwards."
The Stewards enquired into an incident before the marker poles involving Strategic Heights, ridden by C.M.Banahan, placed third and Jamboree Girl (GB), ridden by S. Foley, unplaced, where it appeared that Strategic Heights crossed over in front of Jamboree Girl (GB) before the marker poles had been reached.
Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that C.M. Banahan had breached Rule 211(a) by failing to keep a straight line before he had passed the marker poles. They, therefore, severely cautioned him having taken his previous record into consideration. John James Feane, trainer of Strategic Heights, attended this enquiry with C.M. Banahan.
(GC & EM)
