Avondale follows up on Roscommon success

After making the breakthrough at Roscommon last month, Avondale followed-up in the Galway Apprentice Handicap.

Owned and trained by Barry Connell, the four-year-old went up 6lb for his recent success but was well-fancied to defy that rise, going off the 5/2 favourite (from 4s) under Daniel King.

Settled in second, the Gleneagles bay improved to the front on the turn into the straight and soon skipped a few lengths clear.

Ridden inside the final furlong, he eventually came home three quarters of a length to the good, with the fast-finishing Palo Duro (10/1) having to settle for second under Jack Kearney.

Backed from 20s into 17/2, Patrick Street was another length and a quarter away in third.

"He is a nice progressive horse and I'd say has improved a bit from Roscommon. He got the run of today's race, he has a big long stride and will be more of a jumping horse in the future," Connell revealed.

"He has had one run over hurdles but we'll keep him on the Flat for this year and he might now sneak into one of those better races at the back-end. He handled softer ground and is a grand dual purpose horse.

"Gleneagles is a good sire and this could be a lovely summer horse for hurdles next year.

"A few years ago when the store horses became very dear, I decided to buy Flat yearlings with staying pedigrees to do two jobs. They were a bit of value and you can see that this horse will also make a chaser in time."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes