Pull Again Green (Shane Fitzgerald) beats Gris Gris Top (Harley Dunne)© Photo Healy Racing
Harley Dunne was all over the second split of the Monksgrange (C&G) P-To-P INH Flat Race at Wexford, training the winner Pull Again Green and riding the runner-up Gris Gris Top
Gris Gris Top was another second placer for Aidan Fitzgerald after the silver medal for the unfortunate Limerick Leader in the opener.
Dunne also rode Limerick Leader but there was better luck for him as a handler as Pull Again Green gained a length and a quarter verdict in the hands of Shane Fitzgerald.
Pull Again Green was bettering form figures of ‘P6F’ in the point-to-point fields. He returned at 8/1 after attracting market-support at much bigger odds earlier.
This was a first track winner for Fitzgerald (twice top of the pile in the point-to-point novice rider ranks). He's twenty-three and from Cork, but working in Wexford with Mick Goff.
"I've owned winners on the track before but this is the first one I've trained. I thought he'd run well today. Shane has a very strong connection with the syndicate, he is good friends with them and they wanted him. He has done a lot of work with the horse and we said we'd stick with Shane. It worked out anyway," explained Dunne.
"He is for sale. His form on paper doesn't look the best but his run in Mainstown was very good in a competitive four-year-old maiden where he came down two out. He was upsides the leaders there and James Hannon said he thought he'd win. He was definitely going to be in the first two there anyway.
"I thought Gris Gris Top would nearly win myself. He had a very good run in Tattersalls and I think he is a very nice horse. He is a very big, immature horse and in time he will be a very nice horse. He is not a typical bumper type but when you put a jump in front of him he will be a good horse."
Mr E.P. O'Brien, rider of Hans Gruber (GB) trained by J.Motherway, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran too keen.
(DM & EM)
