Wee Pablo wins the 6.00pm race© Photo Healy Racing
Second-reserve Wee Pablo s price was chopped in half (morning 28/1, to 14s) today prior to winning the concluding Sandyford Handicap at Leopardstown, scoring for trainer Pat Martin and tree-surgeon owner Tommy Commins.
The son of Zebedee was allowed into today's race at 10am with the withdrawal of Brother In Law (stone bruise) while first-reserve Intervention, which had a trees-side draw in stall 20, swerved the engagement.
Unplaced in four previous runs, Wee Pablo showed plenty dash today and in the end held on from fast-finishing but woefully drawn runner-up Musalsal racing from stall 19, which closed to two and a half lengths of the winner at the line.
The win was winning jockey Dylan Browne-McMonagle's fourth of the new flat season and afterwards trainer Martin, having his first, stated “we were expecting him to run well the last day in Dundalk and he never fired. The only thing we thought was maybe go back a bit in trip.
“An ease in the ground certainly helped and Dylan said he liked getting his toe in. They have done a great job here with the ground; I was dreading it with the sunny day - I thought it would dry out but it’s nice and safe.
“He probably wouldn’t want it any quicker than this and the trip is spot on.
"Dylan is a great lad. He's a lovely rider and always gives very good feedback.
“He’s a grand tough horse and a first winner for his owner, Tommy Commins — a tree surgeon from Ardee.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
