Exquisite completes yet another Laytown double for McGuinness Exquisite Acclaim rounded off yet another memorable evening for Adrian McGuinness at Laytown, as he just prevailed in the concluding Tote Never Beaten By SP (Qualified Riders) Handicap. Providing the Dublin handler with his fifth double at this once a year fixture, the Acclamation six-year-old came in for strong market support and was returned a 9/2 chance (from 10s early) for owners Thomas O'Connor and Hazel McGuinness. Edging right from the stalls under Finian Maguire, the 78-rated bay was settled behind the leaders and improved to challenge on the outer with over two-furlongs to go. Soon in a share of the lead, he was ridden and led narrowly from the furlong pole, keeping on well in the closing stages to just hold off the fast-finishing Finsceal Annie (10/1 from 25s early) by a short head. Aine O'Connor was aboard the well-backed runner-up for Ciaran Murphy, while reserve Harry The Rogue (17/2) was just half-a-length back in third. On what was a difficult evening for favourite backers, Shoot To Kill (7/2) could only manage a disappointing seventh. "Yes he has (enjoyed the beach) and 12lb lower on the grass makes a difference," McGuinness, who took the previous contest with Distillate, reflected. "We will campaign him in Dundalk. He will get a break and then kick on with him, he won't go on soft ground. "It is great for the lads and my wife has a leg in him as well. "All the horses have run well - we had two wins and Clonmacash finished second. "There's a great crowd of people here, people down here to enjoy themselves and the atmosphere here is unreal." STEWARDS REPORTS * Mr B. O'Neill, rider of Fireworks (FR), trained by John Joseph Hanlon, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount stood in the stalls. * Mr J.L. Gleeson, rider of Catch The Paddy, trained by Patrick J. McKenna, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount starting fly leaping in the early stages and his saddle slipped and he was unseated. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
