Manning & Bolger land Heavy Weight blow

Doubles were the order of the evening at Dundalk, and Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning booked ended the eight-race card with a brace thanks to Heavy Weight in the concluding Fundraising Made Easy At Dundalk Handicap.

Manning, who also had to work hard to get Landikusic home in the opening maiden, was seen at his strongest on the well-backed 11/8 favourite.

The son of Teofilo gained all three previous wins at this venue and, off a career low mark of 64, was all the rage this morning when supported from 3/1 down to 6/4. Sharjah cut out the running in this extended ten-furlong event and proved a difficult rival to pass.

However Manning’s mount found a bit extra in the closing stages to prevail by a neck over the front-runner, with Brokopondo just another neck away in third.

Bolger's travelling head man Ger Flynn said, “That’s his fourth win up here. Kevin said he battled hard, and showed great resilience tonight as Sharjah is a good tough horse.

"It was nip and tuck between the three of them and he said he just got the better of it. He said he was getting there all the time.

“He said he was keen enough early on and that he retains a little bit of his old spark.

“Hopefully he’ll come back up before or after Christmas, it depends on the boss.”

Garvan Donnelly was another to saddle a double on the night, while Colin Keane partnered a brace including the Donnelly-trained Lily's Prince

(GC & AM)