McCullagh and Irish Acclaim click for 3rd success

Scott McCullagh delivered Irish Acclaim nicely between horses to win the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

The Acclamation gelding, a 3,500 pound purchase in October, has been a great servant to current connections since beginning for the Kingdom Thoroughbred Syndicate and Richard O’Brien here in November.

He gained a third win in the hands of Scott McCullagh, racing in rear, before making good headway two furlongs out.

The former Clive Cox racer improved to lead over a furlong out and was ridden, staying on well in the final furlong to beat Eglish by a length and a quarter.

“Scott is terrific on him and that’s his third win on him this winter. Also a big thank you to the Kingdom Syndicate. John Culloty picked this lad out and we are having a great time with him,” said O’Brien.

“We’ll give him a little bit of a chance to recover from his winter exertions and then find something nice for him on the grass.”

The Stewards wished to enquire into an incident shortly after leaving the stalls involving Independent Missy ridden by J.M. Sheridan, Prisoner's Dilemma (GB), ridden by D.W. O'Connor, Healy's Double (GB), ridden by R. Coakley, Too Hard To Hold ridden by R.P. Whelan, St George's Head ridden by Sam Ewing, Maggie Thunder ridden by D.P. McDonogh, and Approbare ridden by Chloe Byrne. As R. Coakley did not make himself available to the Stewards they referred the matter to the Referrals Committee. .

The Stewards received a report from the Clerk of the Scales, Ms. C.S. Murphy, regarding the failure of Chloe Byrne, rider of Approbare, placed sixth, to weigh in after this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who stated that it was an oversight on her part. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards used their powers under Rule 230 to disqualify Approbare from sixth place and found the rider in breach of Rule 227 and suspended her for two race days and ordered her to forfeit her riding fee.

Amended result:

1st Irish Acclaim

2nd Eglish (GB)

3rd Maggie Thunder

4th Jered Maddox (GB)

5th Prisoner's Dilemma (GB).

O.J. Orr, rider of Jered Maddox (GB) trained by David Marnane, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got tight for room in the early stages.

R.P. Whelan, rider of Too Hard To Hold trained by Jack W. Davison, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got tight for room and shortened his stride as a result.

D.P. McDonogh, rider of Maggie Thunder trained by P.J.Hassett, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount leaned right a bit.

(AM & EM)