Universal Focus and Danny Sheehy prove too strong for their Dundalk opponents© Photo Healy Racing
Strong market leader Duke Of Waspington (5/4) could only find one pace to finish fifth as 11/1 chance Universal Focus came out on top in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Apprentice Handicap at Dundalk.
There was a 1,2 for Grand National trainers here as Ross O'Sullivan's Universal Focus got the better of Tony Martin's The Plan Man by half a length.
O'Sullivan has Baie Des Iles engaged in the Aintree spectacular on Saturday, whilst Anibale Fly will carry Martin's hopes into the world's most famous race.
After an exciting conclusion here there was half a length to Solar Heat in third, with a short head and a neck to Easy Boy and Duke Of Waspington in fourth and fifth.
Danny Sheehy sported the silks of John Bowden on Universal Focus and O'Sullivan said: "That's a great start (to the week). He battled well.
"He's a horse that won over a mile-and-a-half in Cork last autumn, with Gary Carroll, and we were planning to run him over hurdles.
"He had a bit of a delay about two weeks ago and he missed out on it. Looking at the program there was no race coming up over hurdles so I said to his owner John Bowden that we'd give him a run on the Flat to start him off.
"John is away on holidays in Singapore. I'm not sure what the time difference is but hopefully he got to see it.
"He's a grand dual purpose horse and he'll do fine again during the summer over hurdles. He was placed over hurdles the first day and there will be a little hurdle race in him.
"He stays well, stays going and wants a bit of nice ground.
"I said to Danny jumping out today wherever he jumps and travels, even if he ends up seventh or eighth, to leave him alone.
"As soon as you force him to do something he gets annoyed."
The Stewards interviewed D.W. O'Connor, rider of Duke Of Waspington, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race.
Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.
Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that D.W. O'Connor was in breach of R10(3)(f) by using his whip with excessive frequency.
Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended D.W. O'Connor for 1 raceday.
(GC & EM)
