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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Alvar gets up on post

Fri 14th Dec 2012, 20:55

Alvar (outer) pips Ocean DriftAlvar (outer) pips Ocean Drift
© Photo Healy Racing

Alvar got his head in front late to give Mick Halford and Shane Foley a double on the card at Dundalk this evening. Ocean Drift looked set for victory in the second division of the seven-furlong handicap when hitting the front over a furlong out.

Foley got a good tune from Alvar in the closing stages, however, and he stuck his head in front where it mattered to gain a nose success.

The 14/1 winner was making the step up to seven furlongs for the first time having been well held over shorter trips at the track previously.

“He's shown a bit of form up here in the past,” said Halford.

“He's been a backward horse and it was a great ride from Shane. I'm delighted for the owner (Paul Rooney) who has been very patient.”

Whatumaycallit was sent off a well-backed 15/8 favourite (from 3/1) but could only finish seventh. John's Legend (14/1) was withdrawn after failing to load and there was a 5 cent deduction to all bets.

Halford and Foley had also teamed up to land the opening maiden with Opera Gloves

(Additional reporting by Michael Graham)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.