Final Voyage and Shane Kelly © Photo Healy Racing
Final Voyage returned to winning ways when produced with a perfectly timed challenge by Shane Kelly in the Put The Fun In Fundraising At Dundalk Handicap.
The six-year-old gelding was held up in this mile event before making headway between horses from over a furlong out.
The 5/1 chance, available at 11/1 earlier in the day, came home strongly for Kelly leading in the closing stages to beat Hightimeyouwon by three-quarters of a length.
The topweight Freescape was a further half-a-length away in third.
The Camacho gelding was last seen in the winners’ enclosure when landing a valuable mile handicap on Good Friday at Lingfield last year and looks set to head back for further honours in the UK.
Winning trainer Johnny Murtagh said, “He's been coming along with each run this year. We stepped him up to seven the last time and he stayed on nicely.
"He just missed a piece of work during the week because the grass was so soft so I said to Shane to drop him in, get him to relax early and then hopefully play him late.
“He got a beautiful run, he gave him a great ride, and just got there in the last couple of strides.
“He's a horse that loves the all-weather and he's a gentleman to have anything to do with. It's just nice to get the year going.
“There are a few more races coming along for him. There might be something at the all-weather championships for him in Newcastle.”
Quotes by Gary Carson
