Empire Of Dirt© Photo Healy Racing
Claiming jockey Luke Dempsey capped a memorable weekend when steering his third winner in two days at Naas today, landing the featured Grade B Woodlands Park 100 Club Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase on the Gigginstown House Stud owned Empire Of Dirt (9/2cf).
The son of Westerner was an unlucky loser when falling at Thurles previously but made up for that mishap today, staying on gamely on the run-in to hold off the renewed challenge of Champagne James
The winner was one of four Gigginstown runners in the race and afterwards winning trainer Colm Murphy stated “he was very unlucky at Thurles where he fell at the second last, and he was probably travelling too well.
"His pedigree suggests he'll get every yard of three miles, and on that ground it was a proper test.
“It will be interesting to see what Noel (O'Brien, handicapper) does and we'll see what the lads (Michael and Eddie O'Leary, of Gigginstown) want to do. He'd been threatening that there was a nice one in him."
Dempsey was following up a high profile double at Fairyhouse on Saturday, with Empire Of Dirt making it three winning rides in succession for the five pounds claimer.
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee
