House of Kings (right)© Photo Healy Racing
Claimed-last-week House Of Kings today ends a brief spell at Noel Kelly's yard as he moves to another owner/trainer, James McAuley, having won Dundalk's dramatic opening On Twitter @DundalkStadium Claiming Race.
House Of Kings was claimed by Kelly for €5,000 last Wednesday and today, under a late challenge from jockey Leigh Roche, picked up €6,000 for winning. Following the race the four-time winner was again claimed, this time by McAuley for €7,000.
The race was marred by what initially looked a serious injury to well-supported 5/6 favourite Nibiru which was pulled up having gone wrong behind after a furlong. The Tony Martin trained gelding appeared to come sound shortly after the race.
Winning jockey Roche, who marries his fiancee Shauna on Saturday, later reported “we went plenty hard enough and I took my time. The plan was to take my time and ride him to get the trip.
“They all stopped in front and he got there and did it well. That's his trip (1m4f) and it worked out well.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
