Doctor Grace gets up by a head for Coen Sam Coen earned praise off Ado McGuinness after driving Doctor Grace home by a head in the apprentice handicap on the card at Down Royal. The five-year-old Buratino mare has had a bit of time off and returned with a bang this evening. She delivered at 9/1 from 12/1 shot Beautiful Chaos while Lady Kai, the 9/4 favourite, was two and a-quarter lengths away in third. Ado McGuinness said: "He gave her a peach of a ride - he was very, very good on her. She is usually slow away a little bit and I just told him to take his time. Apprentice race and I knew they would go quick enough. "The favourite was on his outside, so we sort of tracked it. He was just so cool on her, he never budged going down the hill. "Delighted for the guys, Colm McCourt is head of the Dundalk Racing Club and it is an ex-Mick (Halford) horse. She has been knocking on the door and the handicapper was choking her a little bit. I thought she might struggle, but we had given her a break. She had the month of May out on grass and I think it made a huge difference to her. I think we will have plenty of fun with her before the year is out. "She has schooled over hurdles, so she might even appear over one before the year is out. I'd love to get one of those, it is a long time since I had a hurdle winner. We'll see what happens. "Sam is after doing very well for me the last couple of weeks. He's a very good kid and does what he is told, he is very cool and has a level head on him. He's good and strong in a finish and I thought he was excellent on her tonight."
