McMonagle lands knockout blow on Champ Dylan Browne McMonagle recorded a quick double, following up his win in the previous race, when getting odds on favourite Rapparee Champ up close home to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Fairyhouse. Punters that took odds of 4-5f must have been getting a little anxious over 2f out, as Robbie Colgan kicked on aboard the front running Golden Temple, building up a sizeable lead. At that point, McMonagle was pushing along in third, as Humtaza chased the eventual runner up. It was only inside the final 150 yards that the penny dropped for the Joseph O'Brien trained winner, as he picked up powerfully to mow down the long time leader close home. “I was happy enough the whole way but would rather have had them go a bit faster,” said Browne McMonagle. “He travelled around fine, a little bit on the lazy side like he was the last day, but just off the bend Robbie kicked and my lad just lacked that little bit of experience against him. “I thought he might have got away on me but I didn't want to give up because the last day he looked beat three down and he ended up finishing third and running really well. “He was always going to improve plenty for the run and so he did. I loved the way he got through the line and he's going to improve when he steps up in trip, and he's only going to learn on the job. “You could have easily accepted second there a furlong-and-a-half down, if you wanted, but I knew my lad was going to come good for me. “I always had him in my sights and I was always eating up the ground. I was confident in the last furlong, I got him to change leads again and away he went. He was a good winner at the line.” When asked if the rain helped he added:- “It helped, it just took the little bit of speed out of them I thought. “He seems to be a good mover but it definitely did take the speed out of Robbie. He still got away on me a little bit but it was a help. “He's a fairly versatile horse, he did handle that dig well and he's going to be a nice prospect going forward.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
