Fret delivers in delayed Dundalk opener

There was controversy ever before the opening www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap eventually got underway at Dundalk this evening, all of 44 minutes late, with victory in the end going to the somewhat aptly named Thats A Fret

The reason for the delay arose when concerns about stalls' handlers' insurance cover surfaced. It related to an an incident at Cork last autumn when a stalls' handler was injured but wasn't covered by insurance and today's problems were only rectified at a late stage when HRI Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh assured the handlers that they were insured.

The race itself was problem free with Thats A Fret edging ahead of front running Knock Stars close home for a narrow win, the gelding's ninth career success success.

The win was a first for trainer Liam McAteer since last March and he later stated “people say 0-60s are terrible races but he couldn't win one last week! He was carrying ten stone then and he's not that big and couldn't carry the weight. He beat some good horses tonight though but I'd say the delay beforehand didn't really help as he can get a bit sulky.”

Winning owner Marie Cusack owns the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim.

Quotes from Alan Magee