Hood and cheek-pieces does the trick for Baronial Pride

Baronial Pride recorded his first win since a debut juvenile success for Richard Fahey over three years ago when taking the Story Of Dundalk Stadium Book Available Online Apprentice Handicap.

The Mayson gelding has been quite lightly-raced since joining Joseph O’Brien earlier this year, losing his race at the start on a number of occasions.

The fitting of a hood in the stalls was a great help here and Dylan Browne McMonagle was able to get a good position despite a wide draw.

The easy-to-back 11/1 chance asserted well over a furlong out and kept on under pressure to hold Chavajod by a diminishing half-a-length with Zahee a further length and a half back in third.

Browne McMonagle said, “We put a hood on him in the stalls for the first time tonight as he’s been breaking slow. I whipped it off at the last minute and he was very good away.

“I got into a lovely position and he put the race to bed a long way out. He picked up well for me off the bend and he stays galloping.

“He also had cheek-pieces on for the first time which paid dividends along with the hood in the stalls.”