Paddy deserves his big day

Paddy The Celeb (18s this morning into 12s) landed the valuable Irish Daily Mail Handicap at the Curragh with Shane 'Dusty' Foley up in the familiar Paul McMahon silks. Leah Claire another one that didn't go un-backed, looked like she might prevail from the two furlong pole but she couldn't resist Paddy The Celeb in the closing stages as he got up to prevail by a length. Show Court finished a neck back in third.

Foley explained: "He deserved that – he'd been knocking on the door at Dundalk for the last couple of weeks. He loved the fast ground and our horses are really starting to get going now thank God.

"He only goes through the motions. I was off the bridle at the top of the hill but I hadn't really gone for him and I knew he's very genuine and you could see that up the straight.

"I sat handy enough but he hits a flat spot now and again in his races. He did that again today but I knew once I got him out and got a few 'tares' into him he'd pick up. He done exactly that."

Meanwhile winning trainer Mick Halford, following on from the exciting Glasstura yesterday, remarked: "He stuck at it well and he loved the fast ground. He stays well and he's very honest.

"He's a model of consistency and he deserved that.

"I thought he might be a bit vulnerable as he's got 5Ibs this year for not winning.

"We left him very fresh for this. Shane gave him a great ride. He got a nice position and it opened up for him in the straight.

"He was very strong on him. I'm going to mix it with him – he'll probably come back here Derby weekend and we'll keep him fresh for that.

"Paul (McMahon, the winning owner) has been a great supporter of the yard and he deserved a big day."

Nicely-supported favourite, Raydari could only manage fifteenth. (GC & EM)