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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Ahlan Bil Zain sharpened up by blinkers

Fri 21st Dec 2018, 17:32

Ahlan Bil Zain hits the frontAhlan Bil Zain hits the front
© Photo Healy Racing

Ahlan Bil Zain overcame stall 12 and a wide course to land the seven furlong handicap for three-year-olds and upwards in Dundalk.

Colin Keane 's mount came widest of all into the home straight but travelled well into contention a furlong and a half out in first-time blinkers.

He was given the office by Keane approaching the final furlong and the pair soon came to challenge Dandys Gold track-width apart.

Ahlan Bil Zain edged ahead in the final 150 yards and hit the line a length and a quarter to the good. He was an easy-to-back 11/2 chance.

Runner-up Dandys Gold went off at 6/1 and he was a neck in front of gambled-on Eacharn (12/1 to 7/1).

Trainer Michael Halford said: “They went good and hard and I’d say the blinkers just sharpened him up a bit. It was typical of those races and it’s often a case of whoever has the luck in running on the night.

“That’s his trip. It used to look like he wanted a mile but when we stepped him up I wasn’t so sure that he got it.

“It was a shame to have beaten the second as my uncle (George) owns him. He’ll keep going here over the winter, and the lads that own him have had a good bit of success with us in the past.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
11/2
Tote €6.40 €1.70
2nd
1.25L
6/1
€2.10
3rd
nk
7/1
€2.60
4th
nk
12/1
bf
nk
9/2Fav
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.