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Hope a notable winner of Dundalk's opener

Fri 6th Dec 2013, 18:10

American Hope (nearside, Seamie Heffernan) short-headed Chiclet in the first at DundalkAmerican Hope (nearside, Seamie Heffernan) short-headed Chiclet in the first at Dundalk
© Photo Healy Racing

American Hope didn't travel as well to the two furlong pole as Chiclet (Colin Keane weighed out a pound over and weighed in a further pound over) but he was a bit stronger than that one inside the last as he reversed form from four weeks back with favourite Have A Great Day (third here) in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden at Dundalk.

Backed from double figure odds this morning, the Seamie Heffernan-ridden American Hope (4/1) was providing his trainer Willie Browne with his first winner in over ten years. Of course he's a big player on the sales scene under the Mocklershill banner.

After the short head victory Browne explained: "I never gave up the licence to train and we only have this fellow as he got an injury at the breeze-ups so he wasn't sold.

"I like the horse and he'll be better over further. He ran so well over six furlongs the last day that I thought we'd better stick to that.

"John, my brother, owns him. He's just come out of hospital so it'll be a tonic for him." (AM & EM)

1st
4/1
Tote €7.10 €1.90
2nd
shd
16/1
€7.60
3rd
1.75L
7/2Fav
€1.40
4th
1.5L
11/2