Shane Foley, Ado McGuinness, Pillar and McGuinness' son Tadhg© Photo Healy Racing
Down to a mark of 47 Pillar came good in the BetVictor Bet 5 Get 40 Offer Handicap at Fairyhouse.
Winning his first race in over a year, and his fourth all told, the Ado McGuinness-trained Pillar got the better of Rag Tatter by a length, after making virtually all.
McGuinness also had Ken’s Sams and Confident Kid but they filled the final two positions, in a relatively tightly compacted field behind the Shane Foley-ridden victor.
“He's slipped down the weights. Even though he went in the muck there he's better on a sound surface so I'm looking forward to him in Dundalk," said McGuinness.
“He should get another one or two hopefully. The handicapper isn't going to kill him.
“It's very testing out there, most of those horses need good ground out there and it's just who is lucky, gets to the front and gets through it.
“Colin was to ride him but I took him off and put him on Ken's Sam's because she had the inside draw and it was good ground at the time.
“It was great to get a win for Sean Gallagher who is a long standing patron of mine. It's great to get his name on the board.”
S.M. Mooney, rider of Confident Kid (GB) trained by Adrian McGuinness, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount drifted right after leaving the stalls.
(GC & EM)
