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Purple patch continues for McAuley's orange colours

Lismacbryan Hill (orange) touches off Rift ValleyLismacbryan Hill (orange) touches off Rift Valley
© Healy Racing Photos

The orange silks of James McAuley have been carried to success with great regularity at Dundalk in recent weeks and Lismacbryan Hill (7/2 fav) added to the former trainer's run of success when landing the (0-60) six-furlong handicap under Shane Foley.

Claimed from Paddy Magee's yard after winning on the beach at Laytown in August, the Kuroshio filly made the running until narrowly headed by 50/1 outsider Rift Valley over a furlong out.

That rival lost a bit of momentum when appearing to jump some footprints in the Polytrack surface inside the final furlong and Lismacbryan Hill led again close home to score by a head. 

I think that's 10 individual runners we've had now and eight of them have won, so we are not doing too badly at all.

McAuley's run of success continues

McAuley said of the Denis Hogan-trained winner: "We don't like leaving them at home - running over five (furlongs), she just doesn't have the speed for it. 

"Shane was very good on her as well, he got it easy enough in front.

"There hasn't been six (furlong races) and she was getting balloted out. To be fair to her, she has been drawn in the car park every time. First time she has had a decent draw. 

"I think that's 10 individual runners we've had now and eight of them have won, so we are not doing too badly at all." 

When it was put to him that his string is growing through the sales and claimers, he replied: "Growing far too quick! There's far too many of them but, if you don't have horses, you can't win!"

Additional reporting by Michael Graham

1st
7/2Fav
Tote €5.00 €1.90
2nd
hd
50/1
€15.20
3rd
0.75L
6/1
€2.00
4th
nk
9/2
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.