Dollar Value and Luke McAteer© Photo Healy Racing
The concluding 1m6f handicap for horses rated 45-65 saw Dollar Value (7/2) win unchallenged having been clear throughout under Luke McAteer.
The in-form 6-year-old had won over course and distance in similar style last Saturday under Colin Keane before being no match for Ben Siegel over 1m4f at Down Royal last night.
5lb claimer McAteer, completing an 84/1 plus double after Hathiq earlier, has many times shown himself to be a good judge of pace out in front and allowed his mount to build up a big lead by the home turn. Nothing threatened to land a blow up the straight with Metal Man coming through to take the runner-up spot, eight lengths adrift of the easy winner.
Grade One hurdles winner Jeff Kidder sent off the 6/5 favourite, again disappointed on the level as he came home a moderate fourth.
It was a fourth win on the Flat, to go with four under National Hunt rules, for the son of Exchange Rate.
Winning trainer Tom McCourt said: “I was very cagey about running him again after running him so quick again last night.
“The first thing Colin (Keane) said last night, before he got off him, was 'if that lad is all right in the morning run him again'. That swung it for me.
“Watching the race today I thought he had gone too hard as he went some gallop down the back but he seems to be in the form of his life at the minute.
“He loves good ground and this track probably suits a lad like him as he can get his breather, fill his lungs and away again.
“He's a right old horse and a great horse to have. He's always promised a lot at home and we always thought he was better than what he had been doing.
“The reason I didn't go back chasing with him is that he took a tumble in Thurles and I was afraid it might have left a bit of a scar on him. The next day he ran here he planted himself at the start.
“When he's doing everything right at this game and at hurdling I might just put it on the long finger for the time being. He does jump well and was just unfortunate that day to take a tumble.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
