Tom, Sean (grandson), Rory Cleary, Truly Delightful and David Keegan© Photo Healy Racing
Tom and Rory Cleary, so narrowly denied in the opener with runner-up Dancingwithangels, didn't have long to wait for compensation with Truly Delightful who grittily landed the Live The Dream With Tote Rated Race at Ballinrobe.
This was a special success for Cleary senior as he hails from Kilmaine in County Mayo and this was his first victory at the local track.
Bounced out quickly after a Killarney sixth placing last week, the Kalanisi filly made all and held off the challenge of the favourite Que Sera Sera by three parts of a length.
Less than two lengths covered the five participants at the end of this extended nine furlong event. Remarkable veteran Fit The Cove was of course amongst them – in fourth position – and he had also encountered some interference inside the final furlong.
Cleary senior revealed: "It's great to be talking to you in my home town of Ballinrobe as I originally come from Kilmaine and this is my first winner here.
"I'm glad I declared her and ran her now as I had Queen Of Alba in mind for this race but she got a touch of colic during the week and when the ease came in the ground I just declared Truly Delightful.
"She done it very well, she stuck at it well. She was probably a bit too long travelling to Killarney the last day and she sweated up in the box so I came down here early in the morning.
"She was well settled in and it paid off. It's good for the syndicate (Galway Mayo Offaly Syndicate) as they are not too long in it and they have got three wins out of her so it nice to see them kept happy.
"She will definitely be going up the hill next week (Galway). She likes a cut in the ground, today was the ideal as it's safe ground - a good coat of grass on it and I have no doubt it will be something similar at Galway.
"They do a great job there and they always seem to have the ground safe and I'd be confident enough it will suit her."
Young Sean Cleary junior, a son of the late Sean, was a delighted member of the winning party on his first venture to this course. (DM & EM)
