Sir Les Patterson lords it over Dundalk rivals Sir Les Patterson booked his ticket to the valuable Good Friday fixture at Newcastle in April, as he impressively dismissed his rivals in the opening Racing TV Club Day Handicap. An easy four-length winner over the course and distance in November, the Stephen Thorne-trained five-year-old was well-fancied to follow-up this evening and was returned the 11/8 favourite (drifted from 11/10) in the colours of Shamrock Thoroughbreds. Given a confident ride by Jack Kearney, the former Harry Eustace inmate made smooth on the inner from early in the straight and improved to lead with over a furlong to go, keeping on well from there to score by a length-and-three-quarters. Returned at 40/1, City House fared best of the rest under Ronan Whelan for Adrian McGuinness, while Venetian (14/1 from 66s early) was just a nose behind in third. "He's a horse that we bought last July and he has done nothing but improve, progress, and develop," Thorne reflected. "He's a fine big horse for a sprinter - he's a horse with a lot of size. "These sprinters only come into their own at five and six, so we are delighted to have him on our side. "Obviously, Newcastle has been the grand plan for him, so hopefully the handicapper won't be too severe on him before we head that direction. "I think the straight and stiff six (furlongs) in Newcastle will suit him. The Tapeta surface hopefully will suit him as well. That is the grand plan and I think he is going to take a lot of beating over there. "He is a little bit lower (rated) on the turf, I think he could be 11lb lower on the turf, so he will be targeted at a nice handicap after Newcastle. "We have a lot to look forward to with him - we gave a lot of money for him but, with respect, he is a fabulous horse now. "A lot of people involved that I have to give special thanks to because, without these people, I can't go out and buy these type of horses. "I want to dedicate this to my brother who passed away last week very suddenly and he is up there looking down on us." Additional reporting by Michael Graham
