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Ceallach makes the breakthrough under Whelan

Ceallach (far side) is ridden out by Ronan Whelan to beat Regally BlondeCeallach (far side) is ridden out by Ronan Whelan to beat Regally Blonde
© Photo Healy Racing

Ceallach made the breakthrough on his sixth start, as he just got the better of Regally Blonde in the William Hill Racing Radio Maiden.

A good third on his second outing at Navan in March, the Mick Halford trained chestnut had been a bit disappointing since and was sent off a 3-1 chance this afternoon.

Settled in mid-division by Ronan Whelan, he was poised behind the leaders in fourth on the approach to the straight.

He improved into a share of the lead from the two-furlong pole and was soon engaged in a tussle with the aforementioned Regally Blonde.

The Paul Rooney owned victor just got the better of the argument in the closing stages, prevailing by a head.

The runner-up was returned a 6-1 chance under Gary Carroll for Andy Oliver, while newcomer Rockview Consort (16-1) was a further four-and-a-quarter lengths back in third. Rosso Corsa nbsp;was sent off the 5-4 favourite and she faded tamely in the straight, eventually finishing a well-beaten fifth.

Whelan said in the aftermath: "On his homework and his third at Navan, we didn't think it would take this long to get a bracket for him. It wasa good run at Navan.

"He pinged off the surface and felt like a different horse today. He has options as well, he is versatile trip-wise so it is nice to get the job done with him.

"He definitely has a future, particularly on that surface."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham

1st
3/1
Tote €5.06 €1.87
2nd
hd
6/1
€1.87
3rd
4.25L
16/1
€3.08
4th
2.5L
25/1
bf
3L
5/4Fav
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.