Cleary doubles up on Ballyadam Brook

Ballyadam Brook bounced back to his best when causing a 25/1 upset to win the concluding Happy Christmas To All Our Patrons Maiden at Dundalk this evening, proving 'super-sub' jockey Rory Cleary with a double.

Cleary, who earlier in the day received a fall before steering Ned's Indian to win, was substituting for injured Declan McDonogh (thumb injury) on Ballyadam Brook who went well clear early in the straight for a comfortable win over 5/4 favourite Shield

Afterwards winning trainer Terence O'Brien stated “I'm absolutely delighted with that because after going to Cheltenham with him, we were disgusted and I could have crawled under a rock! He seemed in good form going there and I thought he'd run a reasonable race but he hit the first couple and ran no race.

“He was rated 139 at one time over hurdles and was a decent horse but then got injured and has had little niggly injuries since; when he's right he's good though but when he's wrong he can be terrible. We'll go for a two mile handicap hurdle at Leopardstown next.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson