McAuley's a dab hand in claimers as he saddles one-two

The Strandhill Caravan Park A Splendid Location For Staycation Claiming Race produced a one-two for trainer James McAuley and owner James Gough as Big Challenge (4/1) led home Timemakesitfine (9/4).

The Sea The Stars 7-year-old, a useful but fragile performer when in the care of Saeed Bin Suroor, hit the front before the home turn under Dylan Browne McMonagle and stayed on well to hold his stable companion by a length and a half.

The 2/1 favourite Nailed Down turning out again quickly having finished ninth at Gowran yesterday, was a further four and a half lengths away in third.

“We pencilled this race in six or seven weeks ago for Big Challenge. He’s a grand horse but he had a leg before we got him, so if anyone wants to claim him (for 8,000 euros), it’s the equivalent of throwing eight grand on the roulette table, on red or black.

“If he’s sound in the morning, he’ll win again.

“The drop of rain was no harm (ground was changed to yielding, good to yielding in places after 3mm in the morning). The track would have been plenty tight for him but it was an ideal opportunity. I couldn’t for the life of me understand how he was drifting out in the betting.

“He’s classy. He actually went to Navan three weeks ago for a schooling race and he won with his head in his chest, so fitness shouldn’t have been an issue.

“Both of mine have taken a circuit to pull up, so we were happy enough with his fitness and, rated 85, he was a minimum of fifteen or sixteen pounds well in with everything else.

“It was grand to see the mare (second Timemakesitfine) run back into a bit of form as well, so a good day all round!”

The winner was the subject of a friendly claim and remains with McAuley, while third home Nailed Down was claimed, for 5,000 euros, by Michael McHugh.