66/1 Mullacash Buzz a dream start for Dowling

The View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap was all about trainer Thomas Dowling who enjoyed his first winner when he saddled his first runner, Mullacash Buzz

You couldn't have called the 66/1 shot a winner waiting to happen at the halfway stage as he had plenty on his plate towards the rear of this seven furlong contest.

Danny Sheehy switched him to the inner in the home straight and the pair improved over a furlong out.

They had a clear route in the final furlong and came through to lead with 100 yards to go.

The three-year-old gelding, in the first-time tongue-strap won by a head from 7/1 Sunset Nova Helen De Pourtales was half a length back in third at 33/1.

Trainer Thomas Dowling said: "That's my first runner and first winner, thank God.

“He goes well enough at home and we thought he was better than a 46-horse but we didn't expect that in a million years and we're over the moon.

“We're a small operation, we only have a handful of horses, and it's nice to start things off on the right foot.

“It's only myself and my other half Nicola doing them at home. We work hard and it's nice to reap the rewards.

“We're based in Mullacash (near Naas) and the owner Martin Flinter is actually our landlord, we rent the yard off him, so it's quite fitting that our first winner is for him.

“We only have seven horses at the minute. We'll try building quality rather than quantity, we'll keep the numbers low and swap out the ones that can't win.”

When asked if the injuries he sustained as a jockey had caught up with him, Dowling replied: "Yes, eventually. I was know as the bionic man over there (in Britain) as I ended up with that many operations and that many different bits of metal in me. Eventually you can only bounce off the ground so many times and get back up. Luckily I am still able to ride out and do a lot.

"I loved every minute of race riding - Plumpton as much as a lot of lads would hate it over there was a place I used to love going around. Myself and Zoe (Davison) used to have so many winners and good days there.

"Training was always something I wanted to do even before I started riding. I always kept training in the back of my mind. We have been pre-training for the last two years and breaking horses and trying to buy some in the last year. The way things have gone we said we would take a step back from that and take the licence out."

The Stewards enquired into an incident in the closing stages involving Roxette (GER), ridden by K. Moody, placed sixth, Helen De Pourtales, ridden by P.A. Harnett, placed third and Drummond Warrior ridden by Sorcha Woods, unplaced, where it appeared that Roxette ran short of room and had to check. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. K. Moody stated that he suffered interference from his outside. P. A. Harnett stated that his mount drifted left which he corrected but it then drifted again. Sorcha Woods stated that she kept a straight line and suffered no interference. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that P. A. Harnett was in breach of Rule 214, in that he had ridden carelessly. Having considered his record in this regard the Stewards suspended P. A Harnett for two racedays.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson