Dinard Rose blooms for Nina Walsh Dinard Rose sealed Nina Walsh's first victory on the Flat with a gutsy display in the concluding two-mile handicap in the Curragh. The five-year-old mare tracked front-running Effernock Fizz and closed approaching the final half mile of this stamina test. She was on good terms with herself as she readily swept past Effernock Fizz two and a half furlongs out. It was still a long way home, though, as she came under a drive racing past the two pole. Hat-trick-seeking Ever Present tanked along on the bridle to cut into the lead, and was soon ridden by Shane Foley to gain a narrow lead inside the final furlong. However, Dinard Rose was game in the final 100 yards for Andrew Slattery and rallied to pull out the victory in the closing stages. She passed the post half a length in front of Ever Present (10/3). The winner returned at 4/1 having been available at double those odds this morning. Walsh said: “I'm delighted, that's brilliant. This is where I had my first winner as a jockey and it's nice to have my first winner on the Flat here. “I'm delighted she's come back to form and delighted to have her back. “I basically just have her to run. I had a point-to-pointer that I didn't sell as a store but he won in the spring so I only have her. “I'm delighted to trick around with her and she's a great lead for the young horses. She's a great yardstick. “Noel (Meade) did a brilliant job with her. I've moved back up home and that's why I took her as I had time to do my own thing with her, and I had my licence. “I said I might as well take her back and I'm delighted I did as I get a bit of fun out of her. She's been running consistently.” Walsh trained Blaze Of Fire to win a handicap chase at Killarney in August 2013. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
