First win in Ireland for Never Back Down

The Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap (Div I) went to the first reserve Never Back Down (22/1) who registered his first success for the best part of three years.

A four-time winner for Hugo Palmer, most recently off a rating of 100 at Lingfield in November 2018, the Kodiac gelding tanked along with loads of enthusiasm in the front rank from the outset.

Despite appearing to be over-racing in the hands of Joe Doyle, the 6-year-old kept on well in the straight to hold the staying-on Hightown Heights (6/1) by three quarters of a length with the 3/1 favourite Jack Berry House back in third.

It was a first win in Ireland for Never Back Down, scoring here off mark of 56.

Winning trainer Joseph Murray, who was leading up his charge, said: “His work had improved in the last couple of weeks and maybe the step up to a mile helped. He likes it here in Dundalk as well.

“He had good form here previously and we were hopeful of a good run more than confident.”

Quotes from Gary Carson