Ronan Whelan © Photo Healy Racing
Ronan Whelan was the man at Dundalk this evening and the Monasterevin rider made it three in a row when bringing the well-fancied Chally Chute through to lead close home in the first division of the 1m4f handicap.
Named after a legendary Curragh character who trained in Maddenstown and was a regular contributor to the letters page of 'The Irish Field', the chestnut four-year-old came forward from a promising fifth on handicap debut here last month. He thwarted Intend by half a length with Sioux Princess a further length and a half away in third.
It was Whelan's third winner in a row on the card with the treble paying just over 1029/1.
Winning trainer Michael Halford, completing his own double after Bear Story in the feature, said: "Julie (White, owner) works for the Aga Khan Studs and her husband, Dommo, works for Juddmonte, so they are at the heart and soul of this game.
"They bred this horse and he was reared on a foster (mare). He had a setback as a three-year-old and we had to wait until four. They have been very, very patient with him.
"The name meant a lot to them because back in the day Julie's dad rode a lot for Chally Chute and rode winners for him.
"He is a Fast Company and handles that surface really well. He has got a big heart and every time you go for him, he keeps finding.
"Ronan gave Andy's horse (Oliver, Manbehindthemoney a great ride as well. Ronan is a world-class rider, Ronan just has to believe it. We saw it tonight. I'd put him on a par with any of them. We just didn't have the firepower for him the last couple of years. He's a very unassuming lad, but very talented."
Quotes from Michael Graham
