Galway and hurdles on Sharjah's agenda now

Around a 16/1 chance this morning, Sharjah halved in price by race time for the Clonee Handicap at Fairyhouse and the Sharmadal three-year-old registered the second success of his life.

As was the case at Dundalk in March when he scored on the polytrack, Declan McDonogh was again aboard Sharjah.

He gave Andy Slattery's charge a patient ride, getting him to the outer to deliver his challenge from over a furlong out. Plenty still had hopes at that stage but in the end Sharjah found enough to beat the joint favourite, Sceilg (had every chance) by three parts of a length.

Slattery disclosed: "He was portably a bit far back the last time in the Curragh in what was a premier handicap in everything but name (8th of 10 there behind Levanto).

"Declan said that we should head to Galway now and he'll probably go for a three-year-old handicap.

"The main aim is the first three-year-old hurdle at Roscommon, providing the ground is good.

"He's already run in a schooling hurdle at Tipperary so we have the ground work done." (AM & EM)