Ceallach and Ronan Whelan win for trainers Mick Halford and Tracey Collins at Dundalk. © Photo Healy Racing
Michael Halford and Tracey Collins were back in the winners' enclosure with stable jockey Ronan Whelan after Ceallach produced a late burst to land the FLC Frank Lynch & Co. 50th Anniversary Handicap at Dundalk.
Runner-up in the "Red God" at this venue on his penultimate start, the four-year-old subsequently finished mid division in a premier handicap at Leopardstown on Champions Weekend.
Back at the track where he has recorded all three career wins to date, the Paul Rooney owned gelding made it win number four under a strong drive from Whelan.
Held up in rear in the early part of the race, the Lope De Vega gelding was switched out wide to make his challenge early in the straight.
As long time leader Bold Approach was headed, Star Harbour took over, quickly going a length clear. Supporters of the Ado McGuinness stable must have held high hopes of a treble at that point but Whelan never gave up on Ceallach, finding a late surge that saw his mount home by half-a-length.
Michael Halford said: “He gets the mile and a half well and he’s been a great servant for us. Ronan knows him inside out now, he’s a good traveller and the race set up lovely for him.
“I’m delighted for Paul Rooney who has been a great supporter. He’s away on holidays and his twin brother Donal is here to receive the trophy.
“We’re thinking about taking him to Bahrain for the winter. There is a series of races over there and there is probably more for him there than there would be in Dubai.
“There is another one or two that we could consider to bring there as well but we’ll have to see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
