Mulgrave (centre) and Donagh O'Connor© Photo Healy Racing
Mulgrave won the battle of the hat-trick seekers when getting the better of the heavily backed Ransom in the Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race & Stay Package Handicap.
The John McConnell-trained gelding has proved a great money-spinner for connections at this venue winning five times (all over a mile) and defied a 17lb hike for two recent wins to make it a hat-trick on the polytrack this month.
Donagh O’Connor’s mount, a 9/2 chance, challenged between horses leading inside the final 150 yards to beat 11/10 favourite Ransom by a neck. Rocky Dreams was three quarters of a length back in third.
McConnell said, "Hopefully there is no ceiling! He'll get a few (pounds).
"Donagh said they went no pace which didn't suit because obviously he has a tendency to be keen. He had no right to win it, but he put his head down.
"He's very tough and he's really good at a mile. He hits that line so strong at a mile.
"It is great for a horse that wasn't a lot of money for us and obviously he has turned into a decent horse.
"Some of the owners are whispering Lincoln in my ear. I tell you where I wouldn't mind looking at - Lingfield on Good Friday to see if there is a race there for him. They go fast around Lingfield. It could be a good play, I could see him wheeling into the straight in Lingfield and powering home.
"We'll see, he doesn't need to do anything for the rest of his life really. The problem with him on the turf last year was that his head had gone. It took six months to get him back, we spent a lot of time on him. I have to thank Anna O'Gorman who does a lot of work with him and Siobhan (Rutledge) has taken over from that.
"We'll definitely think about the turf, but he is probably entitled to have a break at some point. I wouldn't rule it out anyway."
Quotes by Michael Graham
