Navy and red silks, Leigh Roche won on Sideshift© Photo Healy Racing
Sideshift (12/1 into 15/2) shed his maiden tag at the sixth time of asking in the finale at Dundalk, division two of the Ireland Thanks You Handicap.
Trying the polytrack for the first time, the French-bred seemed to enjoy the surface, coming from off the pace in the straight.
He edged slightly left when leading inside the final furlong under Leigh Roche, staying on well to beat Rockview Roman by a length and a half.
“He actually disappointed me on his last two runs as I thought he was a very smart horse,” said Roche on the Michael O'Callaghan owned and trained Sideshift.
“Last year he was just weak and this year I thought off his mark he had plenty up his sleeve.
“He has grown and developed through the summer as it's gone along. He's a very smart horse and I think that's his trip, even a mile-and-a-half.
“If someone was interested in a nice jumping horse I think he's going to be a very smart jumping horse.
“On the Flat he's still well handicapped so we'll keep going there at the minute.”
The Stewards requested a report from M.D. O'Callaghan, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Sideshift (FR), placed first, as compared with its recent form. M.D. O'Callaghan reported that his charge ran well when third at Gowran Park over one mile on his first run this year before being stepped up in trip at Leopardstown where he ran very keen. Today the tactics were changed where he took his time early on and dropped in behind the leaders which allowed him to relax and finish well. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.
(GC & EM)
