Local owner comes up trumps at Dundalk Stadium

The final race on the card at Dundalk Stadium last Friday night produced a local success with Hero Of The Hour (4/1) getting home in front in the hands of Chris Hayes.

Owned and trained by local men David Hoey (Ardee) and George Kingston, the winner was racing in blinkers for the first time and was also gaining a first career success.

"He deserved that" stated Kingston. "He's had issues and a few injuries, but has ability too."

He also didn't go unbacked, having been available at 10/1 on the morning of the six-furlong race. His win was met by a good reception from the Stadium crowd.

Meanwhile Adam Caffrey had a breakthrough year in 2022 and there were no signs of things slowing down at Dundalk when he rode a double on the night. He also rode a double on the previous Friday's card.

Firstly, Miss Vizeun (10/1) gained her first career success when winning the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Claimer that opened the card, and then Macadam's Rock (10/1) won the DundalkStadium.com Handicap.

Macadam's Rock is owned by Martin Ferris, the partner of winning trainer Hilary McLoughlin. "Adam is good value for his claim" he said after the race. "Taking seven pounds off the horse's back was the key to winning.

"He's a nice straightforward horse who we got from a claiming race and he has now won twice for us so we're delighted".

Miss Vizeun's trainer Nigel Slevin is a full-time farrier – amongst others, he shoes horses for Adam's boss Ado McGuinness - and he echoed Martin's words, saying, "Adam is good value for his claim and fair play to Ado for letting me use him."

There were two winning favourites on the card. Firstly, Bold Ribb (4/5) held the fast-finishing Lauroline by a rapidly diminishing half-length to land the seven-furlong Apprentice Maiden, and then Song For Whoever (8/15 fav) ran out an an emphatic winner of the Join Us On Instagram @dundalk_stadium Race in the hands of Billy Lee.

Bold Ribb gave Joseph O'Brien a fifth winner already this year at Dundalk. He currently leads the trainers' championship whilst the winning jockey, Hugh Horgan, leads the jockeys' table with four wins.

A chestnut with a white face and two white hind socks, Song For Whoever certainly caught the eye in the parade-ring, as did his performance on the racetrack.

Owned by the Genesis Thoroughbreds Club, he is trained by John O'Donoghue, who has been based at John Oxx's Currabeg Stables since last year.

"He has shown us that he is a quick horse and is becoming more professional" exclaimed the winning trainer. "I'll give him some time off now. He is improving with every run". He has now won his last two races.

Having been just touched off by a stable-companion in his latest race, which came at Dundalk on January 13th, Malacanne (7/2) put things right in landing the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap in the hands of Shane Kelly.

Winning trainer Johnny Murtagh would no doubt have enjoyed this success from Meydan in the UAE, where he is currently overseeing runners at the valuable Racing Carnival in Meydan.

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Siobhan Rutledge justifiably came in for a lot of praise for her winning ride on Higher Kingdom (11/2) in the Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race & Stay Handicap, as he is known to be a tricky horse.

Having weaved her way through the field up the home straight, she pounced late on the outside of the field, eventually winning by three-quarters of a length. 

Following a very successful 2022, this victory provided further evidence of the strong start to this year of trainer John McConnell

"He doesn't find much under pressure and, much as he has ability, he's more of a hands-and-heels ride" he claimed. "It was a really good ride from Siobhan."