Sunset Nova notches up win number ten

Declan McDonogh completed a quickfire 62/1 double when getting the evergreen Sunset Nova up close home to land division one of the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap.

The Andy Slattery gelding, gaining a tenth win on his 98th career start, had dropped down to his lowest rating this month but proved there is still plenty of fire in the belly.

McDonogh made a beeline for the stands’ side entering the straight, a tactic that had proved successful for the rider just half-an-hour earlier aboard Apache Outlaw Circles held a slight advantage for much of the final furlong but 8/1 chance Sunset Nova found that bit extra close home to score by a head. Dutch Glory was a length and three quarters back in third.

Slattery said, "He was probably a bit unlucky the last day.

"Funny enough for a horse around here, he likes to be drawn wide. Being drawn one here the last day didn't suit him - the wider, the better!

"Declan was very strong on him. He rode a lot of winners for me early on when I was starting off and we had a great combination. He said to me there, 'it's a pity you had a son!'"

Quotes by Michael Graham