Dart digs deep to land Derby prize

Dadoozdart wore down King's Vow in a thrilling finish to the Magners Ulster Derby at Down Royal this afternoon.

The mile-and-a-half contest was run at a searching gallop and King's Vow kicked for home at the top of the hill in the €100,000.

He was soon chased through by Dadoozdart, and Shane Foley, while English raider Future Investment also came to press the front pair with over a furlong to run.

It turned into a real battle inside the final furlong and it was the Noel Meade-trained colt who found more to edge ahead in the last 50 yards and record a neck win.

There was a two-and-a-half length gap back to Future Investment in third.

The 11/2 winner was tackling the trip for the first tine having also won on his first try over ten furlongs at Naas last month.

It was compensation for connections as Wingingit, in the same colours of Mairead Cahill, had been unlucky in running when second in this race two years ago.

Meade said: "We don't have very many Flat horses. Over the last couple of years we have sort of got a few more just to keep the thing going through the summer.

"They are an awful lot easier to train to be honest with you, they are a doddle compared to training jumpers. They get away with murder those Flat trainers!

"The plan was to go to Ascot (for King George V Stakes won by South Pacific who he beat in Naas). We were second reserve and we decided it wasn't worth the risk. Three did come out but we still wouldn't have got in because they didn't come out until the day.

"The ground in Ascot would have suited him really well because he does like easier ground. I was worried about it here if it would dry up down the straight - I think that made him struggle a little bit on it.

"He's a nice horse and I think he will still progress from here. I don't know if he will go to the Curragh - the Curragh race is a 50 grand handicap and he is after winning a 100,000 handicap so we might try and look for another of those. We'll see what the handicapper does. The prize money in the Curragh is a little bit disappointing.

"Shane said he was very green and he felt like he was having his first run. He hasn't been on a track like this before. He's been in Naas and he did have a run around Roscommon last year where he got a little bit injured. That's why he tailed off as a two-year-old. He kept at it well (today).

"I was confident he would stay. I was worried about the track, I was worried it might be a bit quick coming down the hill."

Foley was recording a double on the card having also landed the opener on Invincible Diva

(Quotes by Michael Graham)