Clear Skies continues on the up and up A Winter Derby entrant for Lingfield on February 24th, Clear Skies advertised her claims when stylishly justifying 11/8 favouritism in the Phone Alarms Handicap at Dundalk. It was so easy for the Sea The Stars mare and Donnacha O'Brien's mount eventually beat Sharjah by five and a half lengths. O'Brien's father Aidan trains the now five time Dundalk victor for J P McManus. "She's a fair filly and we just had to get her head right more than anything. She's got it all together now and has a fair bit of ability," said Donnacha O'Brien. "She was nice and relaxed in the race and before it as well. She just didn't get home over two miles the last day." The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Elleval, trained by David Marnane, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be clinically abnormal post race. (AM & EM)
