Bargain buy Higher Kingdom records fifth win

Bargain buy Higher Kingdom registered a fifth win at Dundalk today, landing the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Handicap for trainer John McConnell and jockey Donagh O'Connor.

A debut winner in 2019 before selling to current connections for 1,000gns in October 2021, the Kingman gelding today raced with the pace and eventually held off runner-up Benavente by a neck.

McConnell said "he keeps delivering, is very consistent and Helen Mooney has a lot to do with his rejuvenation. She rides him every day and treats him like a baby, so I have to thank her.

"He loves the surface, loves an even track and has found his vein of form.”

He added "Seamus (Devlin, owner) does a lot of the planning himself so we'll have a chat about plans but he might come back here. He'll stay 1m2f so has loads of options.

"I don't know about running on the turf as he is so good on this surface. We might look at Lingfield and Mulgrave (stablemate) might have a challenger! He'd be entitled to have a go and he would suit Lingfield.

"It is brilliant as he wasn't an expensive horse."

Quotes from Michael Graham