Crest Of A Wave wins under Niall McCullagh© Photo Healy Racing
A five-year-old mare at odds of 33/1 took the first split, and there was a similar story in division two of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap as Crest Of A Wave prevailed at Dundalk.
The Painestown Syndicate-owned and Charles O’Brien-trained winner shed her maiden tag on outing number twenty three, and in the hands of Niall McCullagh the 28/1 chance beat favourite Gormanstown by a length.
Crest Of A Wave raced in the rear of mid-division before making headway entering the straight.
She was pushed along and went second a furlong and a half out, and was ridden to dispute the lead a furlong out.
Leading inside the final furlong the successful daughter of Excelebration stayed on well to belatedly get off the mark.
“She did it well. The last day she ran really well but they went too slow and she was keen,” said McCullagh.
“I said to Charles to maybe go back to a mile or if we got a bit of pace over a mile-and-a-quarter she'll have her day.
“Today they went a right good honest gallop. I was able to get my hands down and arrive there past the two going well.
“All she had to do was go and run for a furlong to put it to bed. She's done the job and she might get another one.
“I've always got a tune out of her and she ran very well for me one day in Leopardstown.”
Sam Ewing, rider of Fryerns (GB) trained by John C. McConnell, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was slowly away.
T.E. Whelan, rider of Papal Parade trained by P.F.O'Donnell, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped very quickly.
M.P. Sheehy, rider of Manap (GB) trained by James Joseph Mangan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung badly left in the straight.
(GC & EM)
