Husband and wife combo takes lucky last

Amateur rider Pauline Ryan brought home Dream Applause (7/2) in the last at Laytown for her trainer husband Ken Condon.

The four-year-old daughter of Royal Applause was always prominent and showed her rivals a clean pair of heels as she won by two and a quarter lengths from 16/1 shot USA.

“Even last year all the winners were making it and you're better off there – it's not a bad place to be,” said Ken Condon.

“She has the right ingredients for here as she has form over six and seven. She's always quickly into stride and seemed to travel quite comfortably and did it well.”

USA ran well in this seven furlong contest after two spins over hurdles where he finished last of nine at Galway and 12th of 14 at Bellewstown. Dumbarton the well-backed 5/4 favourite, was held up in rear by Nina Carberry and was never quite getting there when one paced in the final furlong. He had to settle for a deadheat for third with Invincible Soul at 4/1.

Ken Condon is now an impressive three winners from five runners at Laytown since 2008. Golan Heights who was temporarily forced off the track over two furlongs out was subsequently disqualified from fifth place.

(on course reporting by Gary Carson)