Andy Oliver© Photo Healy Racing
A truly shocking day for punters was completed at Downpatrick when 14/1 shot Drumgooland took the Come Back And Visit Us Flat Race under Roger Quinlan. Of course that surprise came on the back of earlier 8/1, 33/1, 16/1 and 20/1 winners.
On outing number two for Andy Oliver, Drumgooland was the outsider of two runners from the County Tyrone yard with Jabus going off at 7/1 under Robbie McNamara. He had to settle for sixth though.
There was big confidence behind Noel Meade's Benevolent (the 9/10 chance was bidding to give his trainer a treble) but he was in trouble from over three furlongs out and he eventually came home in fourth.
Drumgooland, a son of Tikkanen, led about five furlongs out and he stayed on strongly from over a furlong out to slam Willie Mullins' Shes Tensixtysix by all of seventeen lengths.
Winning owner/breeder Ian Moore is from Moira, County Down and he is a vet by profession. Drumgooland is the first horse to run in his colours.
Moore said: "We've thought a lot of this horse for a long-time. We always thought he was a good horse and changed him to Andy Oliver. He's a good jumper and will stay further. I'm pleased with how he did it." (MG & EM)
