Maggie Dalton comes home a comfortable winner under Ronan Whelan© Photo Healy Racing
Maggie Dalton completed a double on the card for her owner Micheal Ryan (son of Michael), trainer Jim Bolger, and rider Ronan Whelan (successful earlier on the card with Earth Drummer as she took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.
The Mr Greenly five-year-old won her maiden at the Curragh on her second start back in May of last year, and while she failed to follow up on her seven starts since, she did finish second in the Ulster Derby at Down Royal in June.
She was last seen finishing twelfth of thirteen on soft to heavy ground at Listowel in September and she was sent off a 100/30 chance (touched 4/1) this evening on her seasonal reappearance.
Having raced in fourth in the early stages she took closer order as they entered the straight.
She was ridden over a furlong out and she soon went to the front, keeping on well in closing stages to score comfortably by three and a half lengths at the line. Talitha Kum who won just last Sunday at Listowel, was sent off the 11/10 favourite but she couldn’t match the winner inside the final furlong and had to settle for second under Chris Hayes for Paul Deegan.
Ger Flynn, Bolger's assistant, said afterwards: "That's great on her first run back.
"She has a very good pedigree and it means a lot for her stud value.
"That is her second win and Micheal is keen to try and get some blacktype with her."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
