Batt back in winners' enclosure at Dundalk Buddy Batt came with a strong charge to land the opening Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap at Dundalk. Tracey Collins’ charge had claimed two races over course and distance before the turn of the year and was third on his last visit. He went to post a solid 6/4 favourite today in the five furlong handicap and grabbed front-runner Lethimfly inside the final furlong to record a three-parts-of-a-length victory under Ronan Whelan. The winning rider said afterwards:- "He has turned inside out the last while. He has obviously taken hugely to the all-weather. "Tracey actually said she backed off him a little bit after his last run, so we were actually coming here thinking he's probably a piece or two short and that tonight's race would leave him right. "It did cut up a little bit, but he's a horse definitely on the improve and he's enjoying life at the minute anyway. "It was probably the perfect set up - he's able to jump and get you in a posi. "I rode him in a lesser grade and maybe I thought he was that bit better because he was against lesser horses, but today he went on a stride again. He was able to travel and he seems like a horse that only does enough then too. "I don't think so (reached his ceiling) and he can turn it onto the turf as well. Hopefully, that will be a nice stepping stone for him." (Quotes by Michael Graham)
