The Highway Rat is out in front under Gary Carroll© Photo Healy Racing
Over the years Andy Oliver has produced plenty of maiden winners on the polytrack and The Highway Rat (22s into 14/1) was another for the Caledon, Co. Tyrone handler in the Follow Us On Twitter @DundalkStadium Maiden.
The Dandy Man colt was sharp out of the gates on this debut and was always close to the pace. Leading inside the final quarter mile, Gary Carroll’s mount kept on well in the driving rain to come home a length and a quarter in front of Cisne (33/1) with the 6/4 favourite Visualisation a head further back in third.
Oliver trained the winner’s dam, Suzette De Bavay, to win first time out at Naas back in 2012 at odds of 33/1.
“It was a great ride from Gary and he used the draw well," said the winning trainer.
“We did think a bit of this horse last year. He was due to run before Christmas but was balloted out and then with the frost we weren’t sure if he’d held his fitness.
“He’s named after my son’s favourite book. I’ve read it to him every night for about six months so we had to pick a horse that we thought would do the name justice.
“I bred him and he runs in my wife’s colours so all things considered I was under a bit of pressure from home. I’m delighted that he’s won.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
