Cleary & Bolger on the double with Dawn Tapper

The surprise win of Dawn Tapper in division two of the Awards & Gifts Handicap brought up doubles on the evening for both trainer Jim Bolger and rider Rory Cleary at Leopardstown.

The Dawn Approach gelding hadn’t troubled the judge in five previous outings but a first start on soft ground did the trick in this competitive nine-furlong event.

The 22/1 shot was never too far from the pace leading over a furlong out before holding off the late surge of Jazzelle by half a length. Harbanaker was a further length and a quarter back in third with Aussie Valentine in fourth.

Cleary was completing a massive 298/1 double having also partnered Woodrow (12/1) to land the opening claimer, while the Coolcullen trainer was recording a 148/1 brace following the victory of McTigue (11/2) in the juvenile maiden.

Bolger’s daughter Una Manning said, “We’re delighted with him and we’ll see what the handicapper does with him and go from there. He handled the ground well.

“It’s nice for Rory to get a double and the boss.”