Lady Rosebud beats better touted rivals

The Kennedy's Bar & Restaurant Handicap was a lively betting heat and 7/1 shot Lady Rosebud was probably a good result for the bookmakers in race five at Dundalk. Cashless was a big morning price market mover for the Jim Bolger stable. He couldn't find a change of gear when he needed to and the 4/1 shot eventually came home in fifth place. Vanderbilt meanwhile went off the strong 7/2 favourite after much bigger prices were taken earlier. Fourth position was as good as he could do.

Up front Pat Martin's Lady Rosebud (Killian Leonard) got the better of Beau Satchel by a neck.

"Killian has ridden a few winners for me but that's as good a ride as he's given any horse for me," said Martin.

"We've had issues losing ground at the start and a lot of it is if she goes in a bit early. She gets a bit on her toe and stupid. We managed to go in last tonight which helped.

"She's never had as good a position after two furlongs than she had tonight.

"She battled well. I knew Ado's horse was well fancied and it was a right good battle for the last furlong-and-a-half.

"Killian felt he was always going to get there but I wasn't as convinced as he was. I think the rail made a difference.

"She's a good tough honest filly. She's had a bit of ground to make up in some of her last few starts.

"Her mother was a great old servant, and got better as she got older, so she might do the same thing. We like this filly and she's been a great servant."

(GC & EM)