Guild and Chris Hayes (right) beat Nibiru© Photo Healy Racing
The Story Of Dundalk Stadium Book Buy Online Handicap saw bottom weight Guild (12/1, from 25s this morning) gain his first win on Irish soil or, at any rate, polytrack!
Chris Hayes took his time on the Frankel entire before coming through between horses to launch his challenge two furlongs out.
The 6-year-old hit the front in the final furlong and ran on well to win by a neck from Nibiru (5/1) with the flattering Ulster Blackwater (11/2), who seemed to be going best early in the straight, another length and a half away in third.
Like earlier winner Big Dream Guild started his career with Roger Charlton for whom he won a Bath maiden in the colours of his breeder Khalid Abdulla. The half-brother to Pretty Polly Stakes winner Promising Lead was rated 79 when starting out in this country two years ago and was winning here from 1lb out of the handicap off a mark of 62.
Jim Gorman, assistant to winning trainer Luke Comer, said: “He ran a very good race in Thurles on his first run back (since April). This place suits him, any good races he's run it's been here, and he was off a handier mark than he was.
“After the run in Thurles we were fairly confident that he'd run well. He was running over two miles but he seemed to handle a mile-and-a-half very well today.
“He'll probably come here for as many chances as he can get over the winter. Please God it's onwards and upwards.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
