McGuinness & Shamrock score 1-2 in Dundalk feature

Recently purchased Harry's Bar led home a 1-2 for both his trainer Ado McGuinness and owners Shamrock Thoroughbreds in the featured Listed Belgrave Stakes at Dundalk today beating Laugh A Minute into second, on a profitable evening for the pairing.

Trainer McGuinness recorded career high-points with Group 3 wins by Bowerman in September, and Current Option in October and today combined with his Shamrock Thoroughbreds syndicate to win with Harry's Bar, which was bought just nine days ago.

Harry's Bar, an eight-time winner for James Fanshawe in Britain, was bought for 75,000gns at a Tattersalls UK on October 28 and today recouped E22,500 in prize-money when beating unlucky in-running and fast-finishing stablemate Laugh A Minute by a neck.

Harry's Bar's jockey Wayne Lordan missed a month having fractured his shoulder in a fall at Listowel in September and was himself completing a double on the evening, following a win on the Aidan O'Brien trained newcomer Lough Derg earlier in the day.

McGuinness and Shamrock Thoroughbreds, for good measure, had earlier won a handicap with Eglish under Laugh A Minute's jockey Gavin Ryan and following the Listed race McGuinness reported “we only bought this fella last week and didn't know a whole lot about him.

“Stephen Thorne rang me from the sales and said 'we can't let this horse go' and he bought him for Shamrock Thoroughbreds. We actually sold him straight away, which was great, and Swords Bloodstock have a half share now.

“We were taking a bit of a punt by running him and James Fanshawe has done all the work with him to be fair and he was an absolute gentleman to deal with.

“There are a lot of opportunities for him and we'll probably target Good Friday in Lingfield with him.”

He added “I think the other horse, Laugh A Minute, was very unlucky in running but I'm delighted for the boys that we've had a one-two. The race panned out very well for us and I'm delighted for everyone that is involved.

“That's the third listed race we've won this year and I don't want the year to end really!”