Ningaloo lands a gamble for Donnelly

Ningaloo Reef landed a gamble as he took the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Apprentice Handicap, under Gary Phillips for trainer Garvan Donnelly.

The five-year-old gelded son of Acclamation opened at 13/2 this morning with Paddy Power, but was available at just 9/2 on-course, before going off a 7/2 chance.

On his eleventh start since his last win (which was here last August), the now four time victor was slow away, before being pushed up to track the leaders.

He was again pushed along entering the straight, and he then drifted out to the centre of the track.

He responded well to pressure and improved to dispute the lead over a furlong out, soon hitting the front, and staying on well from there to score by half a length.

The eleven-year-old Toufan Express ran a cracker to finish second under Connor King for Adrian McGuinness at 20/1, while Measured Approval (12/1) finished another half a length back in third under Ronan Whelan for Pat Flynn. Alvar went off the 9/4 favourite (opened at 15/8 on-course) under Damien Melia for Mick Halford, but he could only manage a disappointing fifth.

Garvan Donnelly said afterwards: "The syndicate (the Monday Night Syndicate) are from my hometown, Garristown (Co Dublin).

"He has been knocking on the door and he hasn’t been beaten that far a few times.

"He really wants a bit of dig in the ground, but surprisingly he handles the all-weather well. We may keep him on the go here for a while."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee