Rutledge completes first double on Kartayaz

Sioban Rutledge completed a double (at combined odds of a little over 33/1) when making just about all on Kartayaz in the first division of the Book Online @ DundalkStadium.com Handicap.

The winner, backed from 5/1 into 10/3 favourite before the off, was strongly challenged from over a furlong out by morning gamble Graduate Of Honour (7/2) and Chris Hayes’ mount disputed the lead in the closing stages.

5lb claimer Rutledge was not to be denied, however, as Kartayaz found a little bit more to score by a head with No Show (16/1) coming from further back in the field to be a further neck away in third.

The John McConnell-trained winner was getting off the mark on his fifteenth outing.

Dual-purpose handler McConnell sends out Streets Of Doyen and Go Another One at Cheltenham on Sunday.

Rutledge, whose earlier winner was Sense Of Romance said: “That’s my first double and I’m delighted for the owners who have been great supporters of mine since day one. That’s my first winner for them as well. David Thompson and his wife Eve and all their kids are here today so it’s great.

“He’d lost his form for a while but he ran well for Cillian (McConnell) the last day. He travelled lovely today and got an easy lead. He picked up and stayed at it well.”

Quotes from Alan Magee