Blinkers and cheek pieces may not feature on the beach at Laytown anymore but the safety measures implemented in recent years failed to prevent a large crowd attending the Co Meath venue today.
Plenty connections travelled from far and near with locally trained Paris Sue running out a good winner of the opening handicap.
Trained at Dunleer by Marcus Callaghan, Paris Sue made all for her four length win over Millers Weir, providing apprentice jockey Padraig Beggy with his first win at the track.
Afterwards Callaghan reported, 'Paris Sue filly barely gets five furlongs but this is a quick six furlongs and she also does a lot of her work at the other end of the beach!'
However he added 'she had been showing signs of sickness a few days ago. Normally she'd be bouncing but she only came right yesterday evening. She is one of only two horses I train and there are a few five furlong handicaps for her in the next few weeks.'
Amateur Nina Carberry does little wrong and, although she may have ruined the script for comeback 'kid' and solicitor Andrew Coonan, she gave Rockazar a typically strong drive to defeat Coonan by a short head in the QR Handicap.
Afterwards winning trainer Ger Lyons reported 'this is a real fun horse who has buckets of ability and had some good form as a two year old. He will go hurdling and chasing at some stage.'
Apprentice jockey Billy Lee made his first visit to the track a winning one, partnering his sister Susan Finn's Chicanery to win the Castlemartin Park Claiming Race.
Ninth placed Ocean King was claimed by Edward Kiniorons for 20,100.
Trainer Tom Hogan was another to register his first winner at unique meeting, with Dernier Danse, easy of the Gilna's Cottage Inn Maiden.
Dernier Danse, who made all for her six length win, was later reported by Hogan to be 'bought cheaply but is a well bred filly.' The 12/1 winner paid 40/1 on the Tote.
The four and a half hour return drive back to Headford, Co Galway should seen a little shorter for trainer Martin O'Toole, following the win of his 20/1 outsider Dafaroun, in the O'Neills Sports Handicap.
Kevin Power rides well and he partnered I Won't Dance to win the concluding race, a first winner for trainer Yvonne Dunleavy.
