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Avondale follows up on Roscommon success

Avondale is ridden out by Daniel KingAvondale is ridden out by Daniel King
© Photo Healy Racing

After making the breakthrough at Roscommon last month, Avondale followed-up in the Galway Apprentice Handicap.

Owned and trained by Barry Connell, the four-year-old went up 6lb for his recent success but was well-fancied to defy that rise, going off the 5/2 favourite (from 4s) under Daniel King.

Settled in second, the Gleneagles bay improved to the front on the turn into the straight and soon skipped a few lengths clear.

Ridden inside the final furlong, he eventually came home three quarters of a length to the good, with the fast-finishing Palo Duro (10/1) having to settle for second under Jack Kearney.

Backed from 20s into 17/2, Patrick Street was another length and a quarter away in third.

"He is a nice progressive horse and I'd say has improved a bit from Roscommon. He got the run of today's race, he has a big long stride and will be more of a jumping horse in the future," Connell revealed.

"He has had one run over hurdles but we'll keep him on the Flat for this year and he might now sneak into one of those better races at the back-end. He handled softer ground and is a grand dual purpose horse.

"Gleneagles is a good sire and this could be a lovely summer horse for hurdles next year.

"A few years ago when the store horses became very dear, I decided to buy Flat yearlings with staying pedigrees to do two jobs. They were a bit of value and you can see that this horse will also make a chaser in time."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

1st
5/2Fav
Tote €3.50 €1.50
2nd
0.75L
10/1
€4.00
3rd
1.25L
17/2
€2.80
4th
3.25L
11/2
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.