Experience crucial as Winds strongest Bosstime was backed from 11/4 this morning into 6/4 for the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Apprentice Maiden but as is often the case experience won the day as the eight times previously tried Palace Of Winds prevailed under Colin Keane (first winner for trainer John Oxx) at Dundalk. The former, a Clodovil newcomer of Michael Halford's, got a bit unbalanced inside the last and brushed the rail as he ultimately went down by half a length to Palace Of Winds. There was a length and a half back to the third, Hilary. Oxx exclaimed: "God bless Dundalk! She has a nice pedigree and she's going off to stud. She hasn't stayed a mile and a half or a mile and a quarter in the past but she did everything right today. "She knuckled down and was game. She can retire happy now – everyone's happy so God bless Dundalk." Meanwhile Keane reflected: "I never rode for Mr Oxx or even rode out there before. My agent (Ruaidhri) rang me the other day to tell me I was riding it so happy days. (MG & EM)
