Duhallow Noelie (Ben Coen) comes home in front of Above Us Only Sky (Seamie Heffernan)© Photo Healy Racing
Adrian Keatley sent out the runner-up in the preceding Dundalk Stadium Rated Race in Major Reward and the Curragh handler rounded off the card on the right note by taking the dundalkstadium.com Handicap with Duhallow Noelie
Ben Coen rode the three-year-old, bottom-weight for this mile event, and the 15/2 shot led, and he was headed after three furlongs.
The Dragon Pulse chestnut was back in front early in the straight, and ridden over a furlong out Duhallow Noelie kept on under pressure inside the final furlong to beat Above Us Only Sky and Fivehundredmiles by three parts of a length and the same.
“We're happy enough that he's won a race. We put in plenty of mileage with him, over and back to the north of England and down to Lingfield the last day,” said Keatley.
“He has just turned a corner and strengthened up in the last month or six weeks.
“He started off on a very high mark. The best he finished in a maiden was seventh but he started off on a mark of 70.
“The filly that beat me in the last (Beau Warrior) finished sixth in a maiden and started off with 55!
“Hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him and we'll get another shot at one of them. He just got there.
“My hand was forced that I had to use him as a pacemaker at home for working a couple of horses and he seemed to be loving it when we let him bowl along in front in his work.
“Ben rode him up here and led the horse that ran in the last race (Major Reward). He came in and said he loved it in front.”
C.D. Maxwell, rider of Pact Of Steel (GB) trained by F.Birrane, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got squeezed for room after a furlong and a half and never travelled thereafter.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Crossingoz trained by William J. Fitzpatrick, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be lame post race.
C.P. Hoban, rider of Crossingoz trained by William J. Fitzpatrick, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount pulled up after losing its action.
(GC & EM)
