Hightown Heights leads home McAuley one-two

James McAuley is certainly a big player in Irish claimers and he saddled the first two home in the opener at Dundalk but not in the order the market expected. Sister Lola the top weight and 4/5 favourite, burst through approaching the business end and was ridden by Colin Keane when hitting the front at the furlong pole.

She couldn't put the race away, though, and it was her 12/1 stablemate, Hightown Heights who reeled her in in the final 50 yards to win by a neck under Sam Ewing. The nicely-backed Malaysian was a length and a half back in third at 10/3.

James McAuley, “I can’t take any credit for this as we haven’t been able to do anything with her (first start for him after being claimed from Ger Lyons last Friday).

“I thought she might be well enough handicapped off 60 when we got her last week until I opened the calendar on Monday morning and saw that the handicapper gave her 10lb. I suppose he was proved right.

“We only gave her a hack on Wednesday and Thursday so we know absolutely nothing about her.

“It looked like she ran well last week (when fourth) as she badly missed the break and kept at it.

“As soon as the entries come out for the claimers we go through them and try to pick what might be a bit of value.

“You are buying a horse that is fit and well out of a claimer and you can run them straight away.

“It doesn’t always work out but you know your fate fairly quick.”

Claims after this race: Sister Lola friendly claim for €20,000 to stay with James McAuley, Malaysian €9,000 by James McAuley, Even Flow €10,000 by Marshall Watson and Sentiment €5,000 by Mick Mulvany.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee