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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Ryan back on a winner as Raphael scores

Fri 8th Jan 2021, 17:04

Raphael and Gavin Ryan Raphael and Gavin Ryan
© Photo Healy Racing

Raphael ran out a cosy winner of the mile claimer at Dundalk to give champion apprentice Gavin Ryan a winning return from injury.

Ryan was having his first mount since a fall at the venue at the end of November and made the perfect comeback.

Ado McGuinness' charge hit the front passing the two pole and the 5/4 shot soon had things under control.

The Roderic O'Connor gelding went on to post a length-and-a-quarter success over Point Reyes

Raphael was recording his third win since joining McGuinness and his second over course and distance.

Ryan said afterwards:- “I fractured my scapula here at the end of November and this is my first meeting back.

Ado McGuinness and Dooley Thoroughbreds have always been great supporters of mine and they didn’t hesitate to put me back up today. I’m very grateful to them.”

Assistant trainer Stephen Thorne added:- “That was nice and it’s great to get the year off to a great start. He’s a horse that we’ve had quite a while and we just thought dropping back in this grade it would be nice to get a winner on the board early.

“He’s a good sound horse. The owners have reinvested in new stock and, if we still have him after tonight, we’ll find another opportunity in a claiming race. If not the best of luck to the next man who gets him.”

There was a 'friendly' claim for the winner while Anthony McCann also claimed back Togoville

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

1st
5/4Fav
Tote €2.10 €1.02
2nd
1.25L
25/1
€5.70
3rd
0.5L
7/4
€1.02
4th
1.5L
11/1
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.