Prendergast and Halpin make hay on re-laid surface with 85/1 Dundalk double

Kevin Prendergast and Gary Halpin doubled their Dundalk score in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Virtual Ladies Day Handicap (division one) with Miss Cunning Mahaaseel set the ball rolling for Prendergast and Halpin in the opener, and Miss Cunning, a course winning nursery scorer, completed the brace, but only just.

Well-backed favourite Above Us Only Sky (9/2 into 7/2) looked a winner when leading inside the final quarter mile and going on.

She’s now zero from thirty two though, and she edged right inside the final furlong, opening the door for her rivals.

Eventually just a nose, a neck and a short head split Miss Cunning, Dark Magic Fugacious and the aforementioned Above Us Only Sky (only fourth in the end).

Stable representative Jeremy Harley said:- “The horses have all been running well but we haven't actually had too many winners so it's grand to get a nice double and the boss will be delighted.

“He wasn't allowed racing until recently and he hasn't been since. He was going to go to the Curragh on Friday but said he wouldn't. He's in great form thankfully and the horses coming good will definitely perk him up.

“She's a genuine thing and won a nursery here last year. She likes the surface and the new surface seems to be better than the old one. We're delighted she's won and hopefully she can give the boss a bit more sport.”

(GC & EM)