Caffrey shines on Appeal

Adam Caffrey gave Real Appeal a confident ride as he delivered him with a well timed run to land the seven-furlong conditions race at Dundalk.

The six-year-old was making his first start for trainer Ado McGuinness having cost £130,000 at the sales in October. San Andreas cut out the running in the race and skipped five lengths clear after three furlongs.

He came back to the field in the straight, however, and Caffrey sat motionless on Real Appeal as he closed before asking his mount to hit the front inside the final furlong.

The easy-to-back 7/2 shot (15/8 in the morning) went on to record a cosy length-and-a-quarter success.

McGuinness said: "There was a bit of pressure but it's great!

"We have him entered in Doha and that is where we are probably going to go. Fingers crossed he will get in there, there is a big pot of money in the Middle East and we are going to chase it if we can.

"That was it (ran him on the Polytrack in preparation for Doha), we had him up here once before and he was very good, he travelled very sweetly when we did a half-speed on him two weeks ago. He really enjoyed it and took to it very well.

"The kid was very good on him and he gave him a very patient ride. He was excellent on him. He was very cool and didn't panic, good jockeys don't panic. Shane Foley had a chat with him, that's what all these boys do.

"He ran in the Breeders' Cup (at Del Mar in November 2021), so he is a very high-class horse and a Group 2 and Group 3 winner here in Ireland.

"We will target Group2s and Group 3s (on the turf). Jessica (Harrington) had him before me and there's not much improvement!"

(Quotes by Michael Graham)