Shake The Bucket & Niall Madden (pink cap) get the better of Raydari & Pat Smullen © Photo Healy Racing
Shake The Bucket recorded his fourth win at Dundalk as he took division one of the Christmas Parties At Dundalk Handicap for the Madden family.
The winning 5yo son of Ashkalani is trained by Niall 'Boots' Madden, was bred by his wife Tricia, was ridden by their son Niall 'Slippers', is owned by their daughter Sarah Ann (former irishracing.com employee) while younger son Tom 'Socks' completes the family affair as he named the bay gelding.
Sent off at 13/2, Shake The Bucket got the better of another Dundalk specialist in the shape of the 7/2 favourite Raydari
Having tracked the leaders in the early stages, the winner was third before the straight and was ridden to challenge a furlong out.
He was soon on terms and he stayed on best inside the final furlong to lead near the line, beating the Roger Sweeney trained, Pat Smullen ridden Raydari by a head.
Top weight Atmospheric High finished two lengths back in third under Johnny Murtagh for Eddie Lynam at 6/1.
Niall 'Boots' Madden said afterwards: "He loves this place and he loves that ground. There was no summer for him to run over hurdles and he will come back here to run over the winter."
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
