Tyrone footballer Conor McKenna celebrates with Wayne Lordan and No Speed Limit © Photo Healy Racing
No Speed Limit finished off best to win the six furlong handicap at Dundalk in the hands of Wayne Lordan. Pillar was pushed into an early lead by Sorcha Woods and set an honest gallop throughout.
No Speed Limit travelled eye-catchingly well as he closed a furlong and a half out.
Pillar kept boxing on but was narrowly headed racing to the final furlong. Both horses maintained their runs but No Speed Limit clung on by a head to justify 3/1 favouritism.
Pillar ran some race in second at 80/1 and three parts of a length clear of Eleuthera (12/1).
Trainer Patrick McKenna said: "It was a long time coming and the wee horse deserved it after two seconds.
“My son Conor is passionate about horses and this is his own horse. He should actually be at a function tonight for Tyrone to get his all-Ireland medal but he's here so I don't know what they'll make of that!
“These races are hard to come by, it's very competitive and our horses are cheap horses doing a fun job.
“It's a family-run thing and Emmet and Conor are a big help to me. It's not about the money, it's about the game and the passion for it.
“My father trained them for years and then I took the licence out in the past few years. It's a part-time job, I wouldn't do it full-time. It's more of a hobby and I'm delighted for everybody.”
Conor McKenna is in training to ride in the Charity Race at Punchestown next April for Gordon Elliott.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
