Jubilant scenes as local connections take the spoils at Dundalk Stadium

The roof was raised again at Dundalk last Friday night when Hero Of The Hour landed the Enter The Sky Bet Prize Drop Handicap for Louth based trainer George Kingston. A local hero as well as a hero of the hour.

It was the six-year-old gelding’s third win from his last four runs (all of them at Dundalk) and once again the victory was warmly received at the track and beyond. He was also heavily supported, being returned as the 3/1 favourite.

For good measure, Katie Corrigan, who rides him in most of his work, picked up the best-turned-out prize awarded by Sky Bet ahead of the six-furlong contest.

Chris Hayes has been on board for all three of his wins and excelled with a cool ride, patiently awaiting the required gaps before easing him ahead inside the final furlong, eventually scoring by one-and-a-half lengths.

The winning trainer echoed many a thought when he said, “That was lovely. Chris has the bottle to ride him like he did. What a rider.”

“It is fantastic for the local men (the owners). David Hoey has been a good friend for a long time and it’s the first time he’s had a horse race in his colours. Louth are flying as well We may run him on turf now. I’ll talk with the boys.”

It was indeed a masterful ride, as was that of James Ryan on Celtic Revival (7/1), who travelled smoothly under his young rider before being weaved between runners to edge ahead inside the final furlong.

The winning trainer was Eddie Lynam and the gelding, who has now won three of his last four races, is owned by Eddie’s wife Aileen, who was on hand to receive the winner’s trophy from Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet. Aileen also bred Celtic Revival.

The card had begun with another win for trainer James McAuley when Tawaazon (13/2), ridden by Colin Keane, landed the Betting Better With Sky Bet Handicap. It was a fifth Dundalk success for the trainer since February 1st and his horses are clearly in good health and heart.

The meeting marked the end of the latest Winter Series Championships at Dundalk, which ran since November 9th. With 19 winners, Colin took the Jockeys’ Championship and, with the same tally, Joseph O’Brien won the trainers’ award.

The winning prize money was donated to charity by both winners, with the Irish Injured Jockeys’ Fund being the beneficiary of Colin’s success.

In this year’s calendar-year jockeys’ championship at Dundalk, Jack Kearney drew level with Billy Lee at the top of the table with eight winners when Ellabella (5/1) won the mile handicap that closed out the card.

Owned and bred by Doctor Margaret Heffernan and trained in Athboy, County Meath, by Andrew McNamara, the five-year-old mare has now won on five of her last 13 visits to Dundalk, during which time her rating has risen from 47 to 65. That’s a fine training performance.

Those words also apply to Bill Farrell following the victory of She’s In The Game (12/1) in the seven-furlong Sky Bet Handicap. A very confident ride from Neve Bennett eventually saw the six-year-old chestnut filly take the lead approaching the furlong pole and run out a comfortable two-and-three-quarter length winner.

She’s In The Game has now won five of her last nine races, the last three of them in the hands of Neve, who described the winning trainer as a “very, very smart man who knows what horses need.”

It will come as no surprise to learn that Bill worked as an assistant trainer – the last to do so - to the legendary Vincent O’Brien.

The father-and-son team of trainer Andy and jockey Andrew Slattery joined forces to win the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap with Burren Song (11/2). In a thrilling finish, the five-year-old edged out Cristal Clere by a short head.

The winner is owned and was bred by Mr Patrick J McNamara, one of three successes on tonight’s card for owner-breeders.

Andrew completed a double when Amemri got the better of Fleetfootsoldier and Little Keilee by a neck and a further neck in another thrilling finish. It was an outcome that pleased the Stadium bookies as the David Marnane-trained three-year-old filly was returned at a price of 40/1.

In another exciting finish, Sea Chariot (10/3) got the better off 3/1-chance Artemis Jones and 5/2 favourite Heartrate by half-a-length and a short head in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden. It was five lengths back to the next horse home, the well-supported debutant Highland Rahy.

The winner had shown plenty of promise on his debut, which came at Dundalk on February 10th, and built on that here under apprentice Scott McCullagh, whose three-pound claim may well have been crucial to success. Scott is the son of Niall McCullagh, who has had a glittering career in the saddle.

The winner is trained by John Murphy, whose long trip up from County Cork for his horse was well rewarded. The winning rider said afterwards, “He’s a fine horse and moves very well; he travelled easily through the race and quickened up. He’s one to look forward to.”