Runner delights hurlers and footballers

Well-backed favourite Slade Runner (3/1 into 2/1) came good at the 16th time of asking on his second outing for the Portlaoise Racing Syndicate and Kieran Cotter in the first division of the Follow Us On Twitter @DundalkStadium Handicap.

This was a likeable performance on the part of the Declan McDonogh ridden four-year-old as he had to be very game from the front.

Eventual half length runner-up Annabelle Rock laid down a determined bid in the final couple of furlongs but couldn’t quite find a way past.

“That’s his second run for us. He hadn’t quite enough pace over five the first day but he toughed it out well there today,” said Cotter.

“He was picked up very cheap and my daughter Mary, who led him up, put together a syndicate with the Laois footballers and hurlers so I’m sure they are all delighted in Portlaoise.

“He’ll stick to six and he didn’t shirk it in the finish.

“We still have 18 in and we’ll keep busy over the winter. We have some new recruits to bring out for the Flat season. We only have a couple of two-year-olds but we have a few nice three-year-olds to come out.

“We will have another ten stables in two weeks’ time and have put down foundations for twenty, so we will try to fill them now.”

A. J. Slattery, rider of Tynamite trained by David Marnane, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got upset in the stalls.

(AM & EM)