Darkened rounds off good week for Hogan

Denis Hogan has enjoyed a good week at Galway ending his riding career on a high with the victory of Bua Boy on Thursday and Darkened provided the Cloughjordan trainer with his third winner of the Festival meeting by taking the Ardilaun Hotel Handicap.

Joey Sheridan ’s mount, the well-backed 9/4 favourite having filled the runner-up spot here on Tuesday, had to survive a stewards enquiry after jinking left towards runner-up The Mpex Kid inside the final furlong.

A neck separated the pair at the line with Capel At Dawn a length further back in third.

Hogan said, “It’s good to get his head in front. He was a bit unlucky the other day as he lost a lot of ground around the outside and we were 5lb well-in today.

“I thought he gave me a nice feel on winter heavy over hurdles one day but he didn’t stay. He could be nice for a bigger handicap later in the year.

“It took us a while to figure him out after we got him from Oxx’s. He had a few issues with his bloods and we had to change his feed but we have him where we want him now and hopefully he can keep progressing.

“Joey said he wandered a bit but he got a fresh hold of him and he straightened up. He’s riding super and didn’t panic. He only hit him once or twice and I think I would have hit him six or ten!

“He’s riding with loads of confidence. He’s a top kid and hopefully can keep progressing. He’s probably a professional with a claim at the minute.

“We’ll look after him as best we can and hopefully the horses keep running like this.”