Irwin benefits from time off to grow

San Salvador in the opener today was just the latest winner of what’s been an excellent Listowel for Joseph O’Brien. A little over five and a half hours later the Piltown handler completed a Friday double through Irwin in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Handicap.

Not seen since April, Irwin supplemented the gains secured in a course maiden here in January, supplying his jockey, leading apprentice Dylan Browne McMonagle, with a 40th win of the campaign.

Never far away, the Australia three-year-old got the better of Andy Oliver’s couple of five-year-olds, Sense Of Worth and Dream Tale by a length and a half and a nose.

Stable representative Brendan Powell said: “He hasn’t run for a while but he started growing and Joseph just gave him time. He’s a big horse and is lightly raced.

“Dylan said he jumped away smart from the gates and had a lovely position on the rail. When he asked him to pick up he did, and every time they have come to him he has put his head down.

“He said he rolled around a little bit but it’s only the fourth run of his life and he can improve again. He’s going the right way, he’s by Australia and is as tough as nails.”

(AM & EM)