Tramp lands major on-course gamble

Regal Tramp landed a major on-course gamble as she took the last at Dundalk today, the 2m Security & Emergency Services Day Handicap, for her trainer Vincent Ward with Andrew Thornton aboard.

The 4yo daughter of Street Cry opened at 14/1 on-course before being backed all the way into 9/2 at the off.

After leading the field in the very early stages she was headed after a furlong. She led again three furlongs out before being ridden to assert with less than two furlongs to race.

Her advantage was reduced inside the final furlong and she was strongly pressed close home by the 7/2 favourite (backed from 7/1 on-course) Greenbelt Star but she stuck to her task gamely and hung on by a neck.

Greenbelt Star had to settle for second for Fran Berry and Jessica Harrington while Rawnaq who was backed from 5/1 (overnight price with Paddy Powers) into 5/2 this morning, was three and a half lengths back in third at 4/1 under Declan McDonogh for Robbie Hennessy.

Winning trainer Vincent Ward said afterwards: "My horses have been coughing the last five months. Andrew Thornton deserved that as he rides out a lot for me. She will come back here for her next run."

Regal Tramp, who was trained by Dermot Weld earlier in her career, was recording her second success today with her other victory coming over 1m 4f at the course in March.

(On-course reporting by Michael Graham)