Dreal Deal has groom Stephen Donnelly and owner/trainer Ronan McNally well pleased again© Photo Healy Racing
He might have a point-to-point background but Dreal Deal has pace too, as he displayed in the JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National Tomorrow At Limerick Racecourse Handicap (DIV I).
Albeit operating at this lowly level, whoever named the five-year-old originally, showed great foresight, as after delivering stylishly when a remarkably short price at Navan over hurdles, it was something along similar lines here.
Mark Enright seemed well aware he was on a winner from some way out, and asked to assert in the closing stages he did so by two and a quarter lengths from Dashing Diamond
This 45 Flat rating seemed ‘a gift’ after the huge step-forward from the Arvico gelding at Proudstown Park which saw a 19Ib rise in the ratings.
Quite quickly afterwards owner/trainer Ronan McNally doubled up at York with the Franny Norton-ridden The Jam Man, who got there at the finish to justify odds-on favouritism.
McNally was in a hurry away to watch the York action and it was left to Enright to say: "That was pretty easy, he is a massive big horse and went through the ground really easy. We steadied the pace up going up the back (straight) and I was conscious of that and in the end got there sooner than ideal but it didn't make any difference today.
"Ronan is a shrewd man and his horses are flying; he has only a small team of horses but does a great job with them."
L.T. McAteer, rider of Storm Elza trained by Barry J. Fitzgerald, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount never travelled.
The Stewards enquired into the apparent improvement in form of Dreal Deal, trained by Ronan M.P. McNally, placed first compared with its recent form. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned. Evidence was also heard from Rules of Racing Handicapper, Mr Mark Bird, who stated that Dreal Deal showed improved form in the region of two stone on his previous flat runs. Having considered the evidence the Stewards referred the matter to the CEO for further investigation.
(TW & EM)
