Comhghairdeas© Photo Healy Racing
A trick was missed by every Claiming 'entrepreneur' at Dundalk on Wednesday afternoon as today's 15lbs well-in victor of the BetVictor Apprentice Handicap (division 1), Comhghairdeas had gone unclaimed for just E8,000 two days previously.
The Andy Slattery trained gelding won both a maiden and a handicap, from a rating of 80, in August 2017 and while his form subsequently deteriorated, he bounced back to form when finishing third in Wednesday's Claimer at the Co Louth venue.
The winner, second and seventh-placed horses each found new homes following the running of Wednesday's Claimer but no claims were lodged for Comhghairdeas, whose connections had already paid for entry into today's handicap.
Comhghairdeas' performance on Wednesday did catch the eye of the flat handicapper who chalked him up for a 15lbs ratings rise for future handicaps. However Comhghairdeas was today allowed compete from Wednesday's basement rating of 45 and, minus winning jockey Paddy Harnett's 4lbs claim, made all to beat Dromod Lad by a length.
Comhghairdeas collected E6,205 for today's win and afterwards Brian Slattery, brother and assistant trainer to Andy, later reported “the handicapper was a bit strong with him after the run in the claimer the other night. We didn’t do much with him since and he was literally just out in the field at home.
“When he was younger he was a very promising horse but he had training issues and lost his way. He’s just not the horse he was but it’s great to get a win for the owners.
“He bounced out and got an easy enough lead. It was nice and simple.”
Comhghairdeas is the Irish for 'congratulations'.
Quotes from Alan Magee
