Jered Maddox (nearside) comes home strongly for Donagh O'Connor© Photo Healy Racing
Jered Maddox continued a dream start to 2022 for rider Donagh O’Connor when taking the Follow Us On Twitter @DundalkStadium Handicap at the generous odds of 20/1.
The David Marnane-trained gelding won off a mark of 64 over course and distance last spring and further advertised his claims for this six-furlong event when a creditable third to Liquid Luck recently.
O’Connor, partnering his fifth winner here in the space of just two weeks, adopted patient tactics from his high draw and challenged on the wide outside in the straight.
The six-year-old got to the front inside the final 100 yards to beat Teddy Boy who was denied a clear run under two furlongs out, by a-length-and-three-quarters with Company Keeping half-a-length further back in third.
O'Connor said, “It worked out well. We had a tricky draw but there was plenty of pace on paper and David just said to ride him as you find him.
“We knew he'd have a good chance, it looked a competitive race for the grade. He wasn't travelling for the first half but I just gave him a squeeze to run him up into the bridle and he locked on.
“Once he got a bit of light up the straight he quickened up well and put the race to bed very easy.
“He's a funny little horse because sometimes when he travels too well he has too much time to think about it. That trip suits him perfect when they go good and hard, you see him to best effect.”
(GC & AM)
