Ridayef is fantastic fourth in finale Michael Halford rounded off a remarkable night when Ridayef made it a clean sweep of the second half of the card for the trainer in the concluding ten furlong handicap at Dundalk. With the previous three races going the way of the Kildare handler it was no surprise that his runner in the last was sent off a well backed 9/4 favourite (from 11/4). Shane Foley, who had partnered the first winner Red Laser, was on board again and settled his mount out the back in the early stages. He took closer order entering the straight and drove the Dr Fong gelding into the lead a furlong from home. The result was soon in no doubt as he went on to win with a bit in hand, scoring by a length-and-three-quarters from Reasons Unknown. It was a first four-timer for Halford and he explained his recent good run:- "The horses just didn't get decent ground all year." The stable has had 12 runners over the past two days on the all-weather resulting in five winners. Just two of those runners finished out of the frame. Ridayef is owned by long-time patron Richard McNally and Halford revealed that between horses running in his own name and being a member of different syndicates he has now been involved in 21 different winners with the stable. "I'd say running over hurdles has sweetened him up. He's an Aga Khan-bred and he just outstayed them," added Halford of the winner. Ridayef had been in winning form over hurdles recently and was running off the lowest mark of 47 on the level having had four runs on unsuitably soft ground previously on the Flat. The four-timer would have paid out at 681.5/1. (On course reporting by Alan Magee)
