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Jody Townend shines on Dahill

Minnie Dahill and Jody Townend Minnie Dahill and Jody Townend
© Photo Healy Racing

Minnie Dahill was given a fine front-running ride by Jody Townend to run out a cosy winner of the Drogheda Traders Plate at Bellewstown this evening.

The Ted Walsh-trained filly was always to the fore and was harried for the lead early on by Masterson

She had her rivals on the stretch running to the home straight and was in control over a furlong from home.

The Michael Ryan-owned daughter of Finsceal Fior was kept up to her work in the closing stages to post a comprehensive six-length victory over 7/2 joint favourite Political Policy

The 13/2 winner had been placed over hurdles on her last outing at Downpatrick.

Walsh, "She's a smashing little rider. At ten stone you were limited who to get and Katie said Jody. I rang Ruby and he said Jody, so Jody it was.

"She rides out in Willies and has ridden point-to-point winners and on the track. The size of her, she should be riding on the Flat.

"She has the pedigree as her father was a good rider and Paul was champion jockey. Her grandfather Kevin Healy had a good horse with us Nickel Money who won a Foxhunters.

"The mare is owned by as decent a man, Michael Ryan, as I've had a horse for. He's always had a horse with me and she's out of a good mare who was placed at Ascot.

"She was 2lb out of the handicap but everything worked out well for her and it's nice to win a 25,000 handicap.

"She's 109 over hurdles and should win another over hurdles."

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.