Shiny lights up in first-time blinkers

After run number seventeen Shinyhappyjohn is a maiden no longer, as he took the opening Your Local Value Centre Handicap at Dundalk in style under Donnacha O'Brien.

Friendless in the market, all the way out to 11/1, the victorious chestnut belied that weakness, leading under two furlongs out, and asserting a furlong out, on his way to a four and a quarter length win, from favourite, Acroleina

Shinyhappyjohn was reversing form, with the 'jolly,' from the middle of last month, and winning trainer James Nash acknowledged: "It's long enough coming and we weren't exactly confident drawn 13.

"Obviously the blinkers made a lot of difference. We had been running him in cheek-pieces and thought he was running genuinely.

"I left everything off last time and tried something different tonight. Donnacha seemed to get a tune out of him.

"He is what he is and I'm delighted for the owners (Sean Forde and Michael J Galvin) as they've been waiting long enough.

"Hopefully he'll win another little one on the grass. I don't think there is anything left for him here."

For good measure Nash also saddled the third home, Tsar Paul under Donnacha's sister Ana, whilst morning price market-mover Tamam Namoose finished last.

S. Corby, rider of Roryslittlesister trained by S.M.Duffy, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran keen into first bend, glanced off running rail and fly leaped as a result.

(GC & EM)