Blue wins maiden on way to better things

Rocking The Blue might have wandered a little but there was no disguising the impressive way in which he bolted away in the final furlong to land the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Package Maiden at Dundalk.

Colin Keane rode the Fastnet Rock colt for Ado McGuinness and though he had to give the odd push along to keep his mount in there approaching the business end, the 5/4 favourite was much the best at the finish.

Rocking The Blue was ridden to gain a narrow lead in the final quarter mile and he stayed on strongly for an easy six and a half length win over Carraigin Aonair

It wasn't a surprise to hear McGuinness say in the aftermath: "He's a big lairey horse and will be gelded on Monday morning. He's improving with every run, and his work at home is very good.

"He will be a nice horse for the summer with a little juice in the ground, and that surface is as fast as he'd want it. He could run in some nice handicaps maybe at Galway, and should be a nice dual purpose horse.

"That's my first winner for Siobhan Gallagher who is from Athlone."

(AM & EM)