Sceptical (Colin Keane) beats War Hero (Declan McDonogh)© Photo Healy Racing
After his success earlier on Bucky Larson Colin Keane doubled up in the Floodlit Fridays Continue At Dundalk Stadium Handicap on the impressive Denis Hogan-trained Sceptical (9/4 out to 4/1).
The money really came for War Hero (5/1 into 7/4 favourite) here, but neither he nor the rest could live with the very speedy and sweet-travelling Sceptical.
A small money Godolphin cast-off, four-year-old Sceptical is now two from three, and he’s an exciting type for the McAuley/Gough ownership alliance.
After the Exceed And Excel gelding accounted for War Hero by two lengths Keane revealed: “Denis was pretty confident, to be fair to him, beforehand. He said his work was good and to be honest it rode like a piece of work for him.
“I'd say he's a horse that's only going to get better with racing and hopefully they'll knock plenty of fun out of him.
“When he got there he just ran around a small bit and he's only going to improve with racing. Hopefully he could be a smart horse for them during the summer.”
The Stewards informed a representative of Damian Joseph English, trainer, that his charge Amanaat which refused to leave the starting stalls may be liable to a suspension should he repeat this behaviour in the future.
R.P. Cleary, rider of Amanaat trained by Damian Joseph English, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount refused to leave the starting stalls when the gates opened.
(GC & EM)
