Dynamite Defense and Killian Leonard © Photo Healy Racing
Killian Leonard had to be at his strongest to get Dynamite Defense back up close home to win Division ll of the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap at Dundalk.
Prominent in the leading quarter throughout, the Denis Hogan trained three-year-old moved third early in the straight, before taking over from Special Angel over a furlong out.
Strongly pressed by Comfort Line inside the final furlong, Dynamite Defense was briefly headed before battling back well close home to win by half-a-length.
Adam Caffrey, who had won the opening two races on the card, was losing out in a tight finish for the second race in succession.
Winning rider Killian Leonard said: “I rode him in Punchestown over a little bit further, a mile-and-one, and he got the trip well but I thought he'd have no problem coming back to a mile as he has plenty of pace.
“I was able to travel on the front end tonight. I liked him the first day I rode him, he hadn't really got anything together before that.
“The third horse from the last day came out and finished second last week in Navan so the form was there.
“He's a grand horse and got the job done today, that's all the lads wanted.
“He's very green, even when I got there he ran around a little bit with me. He's improving from run to run and looks a nice little prospect.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
