Pulse Of Shanghai and Declan McDonogh (right) win from Big Gossey© Photo Healy Racing
Pulse Of Shanghai (8/1) made all in the Join Us On Instagram @dundalk_stadium Handicap and ran out a three quarters of a length winner from Big Gossey (7/2) who was his closest pursuer throughout.
Nothing else really landed a blow with Declan McDonogh getting the fractions right in front. Mrs Bouquet (13/2) claimed third place and there probably wasn’t enough pace on up front for the patiently-ridden 2/1 favourite Ecclesiastical who kept on into fifth.
It was a fifth career win for the victorious Dragon Pulse gelding who had rattled up a hat-trick over 7f at this venue in the autumn before disappointing when last seen in December.
Although generally campaigned over further, he had won a 5f maiden back in 2019.
“He's a wonderful horse and maybe he'll get up to listed standard now,” said winning trainer Kieran Cotter.
“The one big plus with him is that he pings the gates. We thought there would be a lot of early pace so the plan was to hold him up and see if we could drop him on the line.
“He just pinged the gates and got a free run up front. He's a super horse, that's four wins from five runs up here now.
“He had a long season and his last run was maybe one too many. We sent him home straight after that for a break and he's come back bigger and stronger.
“People were wondering about dropping him back to five but he did beat a horse of ours that won the Rockingham, Strong Johnson, by a short-head over five in Down Royal and that's a fast five.
“He's a super horse to have around the yard. He seems to love the all-weather.
“We ran him last year in the Curragh a few times and were questioning his resolution on the turf but the ground was maybe a bit soft.
“When we came here to Dundalk it transformed him.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
