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Tom Weekes

Tom Weekes

Down in trip Dark Vader justifies odds-on favouritism

Fri 17th Jan 2020, 20:27

Dark VaderDark Vader
© Photo Healy Racing

Dark Vader made all the running when justifying strong 2/5 favourism to win the Best Night Out At Dundalk Stadium Race at Dundalk tonight, scoring for trainer Joseph O'Brien and jockey Declan McDonogh.

The son of Dark Angel faded to finish fourth when tried over a mile at the track in December but today dropped down to six furlongs and made all the running to beat always-second Power Ahead (11/4) by two and a quarter lengths.

Afterwards McDonogh stated “he quickens on that surface. He drops his body to the ground and really helps you as a rider. He’s a lovely horse to push out.

“Every time Ben (Coen, on Power Ahead) was on my boot my lad was loving it. I was drawing him along and my lad was enjoying that. I thought he put the race to bed quite well.

“He didn’t get the trip the last day but still ran a good race. He’s very effective over six and seven and it was a nice race picked by Joseph.”

Quotes from Alan Magee

8.00
Best Night Out At Dundalk Stadium Race €15,000.00 6f
1st
Dark Vader (IRE) (2)
2/5Fav
Tote €1.30 €1.02
2nd
2.25L
Power Ahead (IRE) (6)
11/4
€1.20
3rd
6L
Briseuse De Coeur (IRE) (1)
33/1
4th
0.5L
Pip's Eagle (IRE) (3)
9/1
Full Result
Ireland Jockeys Trainers Declan McDonogh Joseph O'Brien
About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.
View Latest Articles by Tom Weekes

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