The three jockeys for the Nursery: Fran Berry, Ana O'Brien and Kevin Manning© Photo Healy Racing
The famous dual Galway Hurdle winning Pinch Hitter colours were carried to success at Dundalk this evening as the Noel Meade trained Dodgybingo came out best in the three runner DKIT Students Union Race Night Nursery Handicap.
Ridden by Fran Berry, the 8/11 favourite held off the late challenge of Zig Zag which had to be switched inside the final furlong, in the closing stages for a three parts of a length win.
Dodgybingo is owned by Finbarr and Mairead Cahill, whose Pinch Hitter helped propel Meade to prominence in the early 1980s. Pinch Hitter won two Galway Hurdles (1982,83) and two McDonogh (now Topaz) Handicaps (1981,82) while also finishing a close second, under top weight, in another McDonogh ('83).
Following today's win Meade, who own began his career in the 1970s as a flat trainer, stated "that's my first two-year-old winner for a long while. He's only starting to mature, and was still very green.
"I was worried how he'd handle being under the lights, and he was looking all around. He could be a dual-purpose horse in time as he's big enough."
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee
