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Cat back on form

Curl Cat pulls clear for Rory ClearyCurl Cat pulls clear for Rory Cleary
© Photo Healy Racing

Curl Cat sprang a 20/1 shock in the second division of the mile handicap at Dundalk to score for Tom Clearys.

Rory Cleary, riding for his father Tom, produced the long shot with a perfectly timed run at the furlong pole to land the spoils.

Settled mid-division early on he swooped to lead with a furlong to run and powered away in the closing stages to record a three-and-a-quarter length victory.

It was a fourth career success for the gelding and his first since Laytown in September 2011.

It was also a welcome winner for trainer Tom Cleary, who last struck with Miranda's Girl here in October 2011.

"He lost his way a bit," reported Cleary senior. "He had a problem with his hind leg and had some work done on his back in the last few weeks." Samollie was withdrawn after getting under the stalls. He was 6/1 so there was a 10 cent deduction on all bets.

5/2 favourite Thebarberkelly who had landed a gamble on his previous run here, was back in sixth.

Johnny Murtagh picked up a one day whip ban for failing to give his mount Diamond Daze (fourth) time to respond.

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.