Double for Keane as Lokada follows-up

Lokada ran out a convincing winner of the William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap, completing a double for Colin Keane.

Owned and trained by Michael O'Callaghan, the Exceed And Excel grey was following-up on her maiden success which came over the course and distance earlier in the month.

Available at 5/2 in early shows, the three-year-old eventually went off the clear 7/4 favourite on what was her handicap debut.

In mid-division early, she took closer order from early in the straight and was pushed along to lead from the furlong pole, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by a length-and-a-quarter.

Joint top-weight No Speed Limit (5/1 from 15/2 early) finished second under Wayne Lordan for Patrick McKenna, while the George Kingston-trained Hero Of The Hour (50/1) was just a short head away in third, running on well in the closing stages.

"She's a filly that I bought at the breeze-ups a couple of years ago and she always had a bit of talent and was quite quick, but she was backward and very small," O'Callaghan said.

"She took a lot of time - she is three and will be four in the new year, and she is only getting the hang of things now. She strengthened up and everything. She learned on the job in her first couple of maidens.

"As Colin says, she is a very fast filly and hopefully she will keep on improving. The handicapper gave her a chance too. Colin felt she has improved again from winning here a few weeks ago.

"She's by Exceed And Excel and they tend to like a solid surface.

"I'd imagine we will cover her in spring."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Raceday Stewards received a report from the Clerk of the Scales, Mr. P.L. Malone, that L.T. McAteer, rider of Juno Beach had presented himself to weigh out at 2lbs overweight which was not declared at declaration time. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned, who accepted that he had presented himself overweight and stated that owing to traffic delays he did not have time to loose the excess weight on his arrival at the track. Having considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that L.T. McAteer was in breach of rule 198(vii) and having considered his record they issued a fine of E150. Furthermore, the Raceday Stewards allowed L.T. McAteer to fulfill his engagement having consulted with the trainers representative.

Amy Jo Hayes, rider of Hot Bell (GB) trained by Andrew Slattery, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that her mount got upset in the stalls.

C.D. Hayes, rider of Poet's Pride (GB) trained by David Marnane, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount took a precautionary check inside the furlong pole.

Additional reporting