Jerandme (far side) and Sharjah (14)© Photo Healy Racing
Jerandme denied veteran course-specialist Sharjah a 10th course win at Dundalk today as the pair flashed past the post together in the Craic At The Track 13th & 14th Handicap, with Jerandme subsequently registering a nose win.
Sharjah was today having his 138th career outing, although his rider Adam Ryan in contrast was making his riding debut in the amateur riders' race. The pair disputed the lead inside the final furlong with Jerandme, under Mark O'Hare, and while little separated the pair at the line, the judge called Jerandme the winner by the narrowest of margins.
Ted Walsh junior, representing winning trainer Noel Meade, later said “he ran a blinder here the last day and the step up in trip (to two miles) is the key to him. He likes that surface.
“He’s a lovely dual purpose horse now to look forward to over the spring and the summer. He’s improved from last year.”
Today's runner-up Sharjah remains on nine course wins and thus is two winners shy of Dundalk's winning-most horse Togoville who has 11 wins at the Co Louth track.
Quotes from Alan Magee
