ROG gets winner on eve of Paris showdown

In the colours of rugby legend Ronan O'Gara, Downdraft pleased his many backers when coming home in front at odds of 10/11 in the Ready Mixed Concrete Maiden at Dundalk.

The Camelot colt was making it third time lucky for the O'Brien brothers, Joseph and Donnacha, and the latter kept it simple from the front here.

Though Cockalorum stuck with Downdraft well, he was never going to beat him, and a length and a quarter split them at the finish.

"It was straight-forward and he's not a bad horse. I think he'll be better over further again," said the winning rider.

"If he stays a mile-and-a-quarter he's probably not a bad horse at all. I think he'll step up in trip whatever he does and he'll probably see what kind of mark he gets. I'll leave that to Joseph but I think he's a nice horse."

S. Foley, rider of Itsdacraic trained by Seamus Fahey, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung right in the early stages of this race.

The Stewards requested a report from D.A. McCormack, rider of Glow In The Dark trained by D. K. Weld, following the running of this race.

The rider reported that his mount jumped out well, travelled happily during the race but ran green and threw her head around.

(GC & EM)