Golden Sandbanks with Dylan Browne McMonagle and winning connections© Photo Healy Racing
Champion apprentice Dylan Browne McMonagle thrilled the attendance of 3.500 at Dundalk by completing a near 22/1 double in the final two races on the card with Golden Sandbanks justifying strong support in the concluding Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap.
The Paul Flynn-trained gelding, successful three times (2 chases/1 hurdle) already this year, added another string to his bow here with a decisive victory on the polytrack.
Available at 18/1 earlier in the day and further supported on track from 10/1 into 6/1, the five-year-old took command inside the final furlong when stretching clear to score by three and a quarter lengths. Mephisto just held off Well Funded for the runner-up spot.
Browne McMonagle was also on the mark half an hour earlier aboard the 9/4 favourite Je T’ai Porte.
Flynn said, "We just said after the last day over fences that he hated the ground. He finished second but he just didn't like the ground.
"We just said we would give him one spin up here as the new owners don't have him that long. We said we would see how he would go on it. I think the surface is riding a bit slower now, he didn't quite enjoy it last year.
"I think he is a different horse mentally now and enjoying life a bit more.
"I kind of had him down as more of a National Hunt horse - I didn't expect him to do that. I expected him to do that before now but maybe he has just changed all round.
"He wasn't meant to (have a spell in Dundalk for the winter) but I'm sure there will be one more, I'm a bit greedy! He'll be mainly for Killarney's and stuff next year going chasing, we would love to win a nice chase with him next year."
Quotes by Michael Graham
