Heffernan followers in clover

Seamie Heffernan completed a big-priced treble in the first division of the six furlong handicap when veteran sprinter Pillar gained an eighth career victory.

The nine-year-old was never far off the pace, got past Derrinlaur Spender in the final hundred yards and just held the late bid of Lexington Liberty by a short head. He was returned 22/1, with the rider's earlier winners being Queens Command (10/1) and Beautiful Sunshine (14/1). The treble paid out at 3794/1.

Marshall Watson, assistant to his father Keith, said: "I'm delighted for the old horse, he's a real stalwart and everybody probably knows him in Irish racing.

“He's been unlucky in Dundalk and at Bellewstown and I'm delighted he's got off the mark for us.

“We needed that badly as we've been over 400 days since our last winner. We've had a number of seconds and we've had a bad run recently with horses getting injured.

“He's in on Friday night at Dundalk and we'll let him roll. The owner is local as well, Sean Gallagher, so that's great.

“Seamie has rode for us for years and I'm delighted to get a winner with him again.”

Quotes from Gary Carson