Rocky Dreams and Joey Sheridan won for owner trainer James McAuley with Uncle James Gough© Photo Healy Racing
Rocky Dreams won for the sixth time in claiming company at Dundalk when staying on well under Joey Sheridan to take the Bang On Trend Claiming Race for trainer James McAuley.
A five-time winner in this grade for former handler Denis Hogan, he also added a handicap success to a course record that now reads seven victories.
McAuley claimed the six-year-old after finishing second last November and reaped the reward with a Claimer success in March.
Held up here as per his usual running style, the gelding moved closer over a furlong out, before heading stablemate Is That Love over 100 yards from the line. Market leader Benavente kept on strongly to take second close home.
James McAuley said: "If they want to pay me to go away (just back from holidays), I don't mind watching on the tele!
"He is brilliant around here. To be fair, the lads had said while I was away that he was absolutely tanking.
"Some days you just go through the motions with him, but he has been tipping away and has been flying, so it didn't shock us at all that he won.
"He is just different up here, I don't know why but he just doesn't go on grass. If he isn't taken, we will have a bit of fun during the winter.
"He has done his job for us and is not always the soundest like most of mine. He is no worse than the rest of them. If someone wants to have a go with him, they will have a go with him.
"He's a grand horse and the other horse (third-placed Is That Love) ran well on his first run for us - I think Shane (Foley) thought he just hit the front a bit too soon on him. It is a learning curve with them.
"Prize money gives me a bit of room to go shopping, I'll have to have a look back and see if we can take anything!"
Benavente was subsequently claimed by Kevin Coleman for €15,000. Trainer James McAuley claimed Jaafel for €15,000, Rocky Dreams for €12,000 and Yester for €5,000.00
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
