The Liffey brings up quickfire 27/1 double for Hogan Denis Hogan completed a quick double as The Liffey led home a 1-2 for the yard in the Floodlit Fridays At Dundalk Claiming Race. The No Nay Never gelding, who held a career high mark of 98 after winning twice for Aidan O’Brien, was dropping down considerably in class and led early in the straight under Colin Keane. The easy-to-back 100/30 chance was just pushed out with hands and heels inside the final furlong to beat stablemate Mehman, also owned by James McAuley, by three-quarters of a length. There was a gap of three and a half lengths back to Harry The Rogue in third. McAuley said, “He was a good horse. I'd say he's hard enough to get fit. He works like a really, really good horse, so I'd say he skips around and does what he has to do. He has his issues. "Once he put it all together, he definitely was a class apart. He would be a class apart from the likes of Mehman and that, but it is great to get one. We've had a few from Ballydoyle before, they don't often win, and then they hit Joseph's after that. It was a gamble to take him, but I wouldn't get carried away - it's a claimer." On the runner-up Mehman, he added: "He started to get a little bit bold at the stalls and I know he carried on for previous connections. He can get a bit bold in the parade ring, so we just let him go down early. "Joey (Sheridan) gets on extremely well with him and he was up to a mile today. He will do a job for us. If someone wants to take him, he was cheap. "I always said it - if we have a horse that comes second or third every time they run up here, it pays for all the others. I know everyone only notices winners, but sometimes you need horses like that. We've had a few in the past. If The Liffey didn't happen to win and he got second, it pays for all of them. "Nothing worse than topping up the Turf Club account for runners!" Hogan also took the opening sprint handicap with 11/2 shot Sporting Hero. The Liffey was the subject of a friendly claim by connections, while Mehman was claimed for €10,000 by Pat Murphy. Fleetfootsoldier was also claimed by Robbie Burns for €7,000. Quotes by Michael Graham
