Boxer really thriving for the Coakleys

After getting Denis Coakley off the mark here over a furlong further four weeks back, Boxer Dunford followed up tonight, again under the trainer's son, Ross, in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap at Dundalk.

In the first split of this seven furlong 45 to 65 heat, outsider Glenmoore made a real bold bid in his first time visor. However Boxer Dunford edged things by a neck.

"I rode him work myself on Tuesday like I normally do and I was very confident that he had come on from the last run," said Coakley senior.

"We'll stick to coming up here between seven furlongs and a mile, and look for something again in three weeks time.

"It's brilliant. I don't even give Ross instructions and he just rides him as he finds him.

"We're very lucky. Michael Ryan gave him to us as a present two years ago when Johnny Murtagh trained him. We're very grateful to him.

"He's a family pet. At home my wife looks after him and he's the kindest horse. He's out there with an old horse that Ger Lyons used to train, In Theory. The two of them are buddies and they are out in the field all day long.

"He just seems to be thriving now and hopefully it'll continue. Hopefully he'll keep going for the winter and keep improving."

(GC & EM)