Paddy O Dee leads field merry dance

Paddy O Dee (10/1) kept up the gallop from the front to land a wide-margin success in the feature race of Galway’s final day – the Connacht Tribune Handicap Chase over two miles one furlong.

The bottom weight, carrying 9 stone 5, was given a positive ride from Mark Enright to win emphatically by 28 lengths as the others finished tired in behind.

“I’m thrilled to bits. I always believed if he snuck in off a light weight in one of these type of races that there was a good race in him,” trainer Philip Rothwell said.

“The winning distance was no reflection on how well handicapped he was as he got things his own way and things worked out really well.

“He deserved a bit of luck. The Barden’s [owner Oliver Barden] are the best racing family in the country. They are publicans and own O’Donoghues in Baggot Street in Dublin.”

The race for minor honours was won by Darenjan at 7/1 while Mirador Del Conde (9/2) pipped Slieveardagh by a head for third, but the pair were 18 lengths in arrears of the runner-up. Supreme Doc went off the well-backed 9/4 favourite but unseated Declan Lavery at the first. Banna Man also unseated at that fence.

(on course reporting by Thomas Weekes)