Kinch (cheek-pieces, Donagh O'Connor up) touches off Above Us Only Sky (Adam Farragher)© Photo Healy Racing
Owned by Celtic footballer Jonny Hayes, Kinch (5/1 into 3/1 joint favourite) brought up a double at Dundalk tonight for New Ross jockey Donagh O’Connor in the Love Your Mum At The Races 20th & 21st March Handicap.
O’Connor was given the leg-up on this Dark Angel gelding by trainer Johnny Levins, and the four-year-old got there in time to touch off Above Us Only Sky by a head.
Kinch was slightly impeded when coming with his challenge between horses inside the final furlong where Above Us Only Sky edged left.
Kinch’s fellow market leader Irish Ambassador finished third, a further head back.
“I'm absolutely delighted for Jonny Hayes who has been supporting the yard for the past eight or nine months,” said Levins.
“I had a good conversation with him on the way up and told him I really fancied this lad so hopefully he had a few quid on him.
“It's great to get a high profile owner into the yard like that, getting the support behind me, and to reward these owners like that is brilliant.
“It was a brilliant ride by Donagh.”
O’Connor’s other win came on Happaugue for John McConnell.
S.T. McCullagh, rider of Wisaka trained by Adrian Murray, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung right up the straight.
(GC & EM)
