Down in trip Dark Vader justifies odds-on favouritism

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