Course specialist wins Dundalk's opening claimer

Dundalk course specialist Notforalongtime (5/2) provided Laura Hourigan with a seventh training success today, before going unclaimed having won the opening Dundalk Stadium Group Deals Available Apprentice Claiming Race.

The seven-year-old's previous win came over today's course and distance and today was held up behind the leaders, before leading inside the final furlong and beating 50/1 outsider Roderick by a head.

Both the winner and runner-up were both subsequently claimed-back by connections, with no runner being claimed in the seven-runner race.

Hourigan was leading up Notforalongtime and afterwards winning jockey Oisin MacSweeney stated “that's definitely his go - seven furlongs and he enjoys himself at that. He doesn't do a whole pile when he hits the front but has a willing attitude.

"I suppose the race broke up as there was only seven horses and it would have been nicer if I had something to take me a little bit further but it is the way the race has panned out.

"Laura does excellently with her few horses and it is great to be riding them."

Quotes from Michael Graham