Grey Danube just gets the better of Almadaa© Photo Healy Racing
Grey Danube has been a tremendous horse for his trainer Darren Bunyan and the grey gained his third win at Dundalk this year and the third of his handler's career when scoring in the opening Dundalk Lights Up Friday 28th September Handicap.
The victorious gelded son of Verglas received a lovely patient ride from Leigh Roche. He was delivered down the outer with his run in straight.
Himself and Almadaa had it to themselves in the final furlong with Grey Danube eventually edging the argument by a short head. There was a further three and a half lengths back to the third placed Invincible Soul
Grey Danube is owned by Darren's brother Brian and today's success was obviously expected by plenty, the three-year-old going off at 5/1 having been 8s earlier in the day.
Bunyan said: "There's been nowhere else to go with him really as he is so ground dependent.
"He had to do it the hard way (drawn 11).
"It's been very frustrating. I have very few horses and there is only one of them that isn't a good ground horse.
"We'll be having runners here from now on."
The Stewards enquired into an incident in the straight involving Grey Danube, ridden by L F Roche, Big Bad Lily ridden by E J McNamara and Liberty Green ridden by J A Heffernan, where it appeared interference had taken place. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards found that both L F Roche and E J McNamara were in breach of Rule 214 by riding carelessly and having taken their respective records into account they suspended L F Roche for two race days and severely cautioned E J McNamara. (AM & EM)
