Grace lands treble for Halford/Collins/Whelan

The training team of Michael Halford and Tracey Collins notched a treble at Dundalk this afternoon when Doctor Grace landed the first division of the ten furlong handicap.

Ronan Whelan was in the plate again as the 3/1 favourite came with a strong surge inside the final furlong to beat Moondharrig by a neck.

The Buratino gelding was sporting first time blinkers and was adding to a victory over seven furlongs at the track back in February.

Halford said: "Her problem was she was getting herself out of her races early on, she lacked a bit of early pace and then she had too much traffic.

“We put the blinkers on her and she jumped a lot sharper with the blinkers on her today and carried him (Ronan Whelan) better.

"She got the trip well there and I didn't have a word with Ronan yet, but I'd say she might even go further looking at her.

"We'll see where we are for the time being.

"It is a good, local success for the Dundalk Racing Club, so it finished off a good day for us."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)