Coen bookends card with landmark 29/1 double

Sam Coen completed a first career double as Ranko Express benefitted from a patient ride when coming from last to first in the straight to land the concluding Follow On Twitter @DundalkStadium Handicap.

The 4/1 joint favourite made rapid headway on the outer over a furlong out and stretched clear in the closing stages to beat Darkened by a length and three-quarters with Chopsticks a further two lengths

Coen, a cousin of successful riders Ben and Jake, was also on the mark in the opening claimer aboard Clonmacash (5/1) and this evening’s winners were his first since having his claim reduced from 10lb to 7lb.

Coen is apprenticed to winning trainer Andy Slattery who said, "He's coming on - he's in school, but he is in with me every other day.

"He will probably end up being a National Hunt jockey, he is big in the weights. Great to get his first double.

"He is a good rider and always was since he was a young lad. He is with me since he was about ten or 11."

On Ranko Express, he added: "Loves that trip and didn't stay the last day.

"He has a good mark on the grass and we will have a discussion whether we leave him off now and wait for the grass."

The Dr Ronan Tynan-owned gelding won at Gowran for Slattery back in 2023 and has returned to the Killenaule trainer in the past few months after a spell last year with Kevin Coleman.

Quotes by Michael Graham