Dutch Gold © Photo Healy Racing
Dutch Gold stayed on strongly under champion jockey Colin Keane to land the Big Picture Communications Handicap at the Curragh.
Always prominent in a slowly run race, the Noel Meade trained gelding led over two furlongs out, quickening smartly to go a few lengths clear of his seven rivals. Genuine Article tried hard to bridge the gap under Chris Hayes but could make no inroads into that lead from over a furlong out.
Trachonitos stayed on strongly late on having been outpaced at the half way stage but Dutch Gold wasn't for catching, eventually running out a length-and-a-half winner at odds of 11/2.
Noel Meade said: "It wasn't the plan to be as handy but they went slow and he just jumped so quick. I think he is a good horse. He won very easy in the North. On his next run at Navan, the reins broke and he was never able to get into the race. Last time at Leopardstown, the stupid trainer ran him over too far!
"I gelded him after that. The plan has always been to go jumping and he has schooled well. He is owned by a jumping man; his owner has Jeff Kidder.
"He is entered on Sunday in a three-year-old handicap and I'd say it's quite possible he could run."
