Dunum cements status as Ballybrit legend

Dunum (11/1) bounced back to form in style by making all to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ahonoora Handicap (Premier Handicap) over seven furlongs.

Natalia Lupini ’s charge broke sharply from stall four and quickly seized the initiative, with Billy Lee allowing the now eight-year-old to bowl along as he liked.

Lee got a breather into his mount at the bottom of the hill, before kicking for home two furlongs out. Maurice Burns’ gelding kept on strongly to score, for the second time in this contest, by a length-and-three quarters from Unique Journey

Well backed 7/4 favourite, Pierre Royale could never land a blow.

"He's a great horse around here. He has a great record. He actually ran well here on Tuesday evening. He was just too fresh and keen and did too much. I just said today to the lads that if it works, I'll just let him roll along and not interfere with him,” said Lee.

“He skipped along on the ground and loved it. I think he came on from Tuesday night. It was always going to be hard to win a Galway Mile on his first run of the year.

"Today I thought he had a better chance if it didn't take too much out of him. He travelled away great. I got a great sit down the hill and all the way nearly to the two before I had to go for him. So, that was a big help. He loves the hill and picked up against it. He just keeps trying all the way to the line.

“Natalia and Craig have done a great job to keep him fresh. A prep run in a Galway Mile is probably not what you want but it worked out well today."

Additional reporting by John O’Riordan