5 time scorer Polly wins a 1st on the polytrack

Seven pound apprentice Damien Melia got co-favourite Polly Douglas (6/1 into 5/1) there in time to land the opening www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap on the polytrack tonight. Ar Saoirse (10/1 into 7/1) gave it a good go from the front in this sprint but he was eventually mastered well inside the last by the David Mooney owned and bred Polly Douglas (4th here on Wednesday).

Kieran Cotter has care of this now five time scorer and here she came with her effort down the outer in the final quarter mile.

Split by the width of the track, a length and a quarter separated them at the line.

"We've two grand sprinters (Polly Douglas and Dash D'or) to keep the place ticking over, every yard needs horses like her," said Cotter.

"That's her second this year and she won three last year.

"She ran very wide the last day when she got a high draw and the six (furlongs) is worse than the five because you lose more ground and she was only beaten a short distance. She had a puff the last day and we said we would turn her out straight away.

"We felt today she had a big chance to make up the difference. Things didn't even go according to plan with her run there as she came a bit wide again but she's game and she keeps going and the blinkers helped.

"Maybe we will get one more for Christmas but that's the Christmas money got today!

"I'd say she will finish around Christmas - she might turn out again here in a week or two and I'd say that would be it and she'll get a break."

G.P. Halpin, rider of Invinsible trained by Keith Henry Clarke, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount emptied quickly and made a noise in running.

The Stewards interviewed J.A. Heffernan, rider of Lapilli (GB), concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race.

Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.

Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that J. A. Heffernan was in breach of Regulation 10. 4 in that he had failed to give his mount sufficient time to respond to the whip.

Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended J.A. Heffernan for 1 raceday.

(MG & EM)