Kalmira wins under 'class' McCullagh ride

Well backed Kalmira (5/1 — 3/1f) overcame a wide draw to land the DundalkStadium.com Handicap (div II) at that racecourse today, scoring for trainer Shane Crawley and jockey Niall McCullagh.

The daughter of Kalanisi had finished fourth on bumper debut at Down Royal last August and today contested her first flat handicap start from a rating of 46. McCullagh's mount was drawn 13 and was held up in rear-division before making gradual progress to lead inside the final furlong and beat Trump Card by a length and a half.

Afterwards Crawley said “it was her first time in a handicap. I know she had two runs in bumpers so she had a bit of education but Niall is class. He has a super pair of hands and she can take a bit of a tug but they went a nice gallop which helped us.

“Great credit should go to Boardsmill Stud. I contacted John and William Flood who bred her and they said she would be ideal for a syndicate. She’s a dual purpose type.”

He added “the same syndicate also have Tartlette. She got some black type in Kempton last month which is crucial for those mares. She’s entered in the Goffs Sales on February 8.”

Quotes from Alan Magee