Door opens widely after much knocking from Dromana

Second over the course and distance on Saturday Dromana made no mistake in the Grant Thornton Apprentice Handicap at Limerick this evening.

Formerly with Patrick Prendergast until he came together with Dromana’s current trainer John Oxx, Dromana was gaining a deserved maiden win here at the ninth attempt.

Strong favourite Dromana (7/2 into 9/4) came away under Andrew Slattery inside the last to beat Noble Intention by four and three parts of a length.

"She has been placed plenty and we were worried would she ever get her day but that was grand and she did it well," said Prendergast.

"We have no future plans and just wanted to win with her for the stud and we'll see what penalty she gets."

He joked - "the handicapper can't give her too much as she is exposed and he knows her very well - he should have figured out his job by now!"

B.M. Coen, rider of Sharjah trained by Andrew Slattery, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was checked a furlong and a half out.

(TW & EM)