Dairerin (near side) leads close home © Photo Healy Racing
Niall McCullagh rode his second winner of the campaign when 3/1 favourite Dairerin led in the final stride of the 50-80 handicap over seven furlongs.
Having settled in behind the leaders, McCullagh manoeuvred his mount to the outside over a furlong out and he stayed on well to nail Earls on the line for a short head success. Half Nutz who had every chance, was just a neck further back in third with Band Width who couldn’t get a clear run on the inner until it was too late, an unlucky fourth.
The Jessica Harrington-trained winner, twice successful for Michael Bell last year, landed quite a gamble having opened 11/1 on course.
McCullagh said: "We were very happy with his run in Naas and I said to Ciaran (O'Toole, part-owner) to step him up a furlong. They went with that and luckily Shane (Foley, Harrington's stable jockey) was in Leopardstown. Ciaran is my agent for the last 30 years.
"He got away with the ground today but he'll be a better horse with more juice and in fairness he has come down from 93 to 77 so was entitled to win a race. Hopefully he can win again somewhere for them."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
