Squire Danagher and Wayne Hassett © Photo Healy Racing
Andy Oliver bagged a quick double at Dundalk this evening when Squire Danagher made a winning return to the all-weather venue.
The Australia gelding had recorded two wins at the track earlier in the year and came here having been well beaten when tried over a marathon trip of two-mile-two at Down Royal last time.
Wayne Hassett produced the 4/1 shot with a well-timed run to lead over a furlong from home and he stuck on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-half win over Miss Paloma in the mile-and-a-half apprentice race.
Oliver had also saddled Marble Angel to win half an hour previously and said:- "With both horses I thought opportunities presented themselves and we're lucky enough to be able to take advantage.
“I think it was too drastic a step up last time with him. He's a horse that relaxes in his races so we thought he might get it but I went back and examined the pedigree and it's all ten furlong and mile-and-a-half horses.
“I just put a line through the last run. He's a horse that has strengthened all year, he probably just does enough and has got himself into winning positions that he probably didn't avail of on a couple of occasions.
"Credit where credit is due, Wayne gave him a lovely ride, I was very impressed.
“We'll see what presents itself now, he just wants good ground this horse and I don't know if we're going to be lucky to have this weather for much longer.”