Power Drive (far side) holds Lady Of Luxury (centre) © Photo Healy Racing
The first division of the mile-and-a-half handicap saw 4/1 favourite Power Drive continue his rich vein of form when making all under Ciara Flynn.
The seven-year-old got into a good rhythm in front and had plenty of rivals on the stretch early in the straight. He was strongly pressed in the final furlong by Lady Of Luxury but managed to fend off that rival by a neck without his rider having to pick up her whip. Matilda With Me was half a length further away in third.
It was a third win in his last five starts for Power Drive with his previous two wins coming over the extended ten furlongs on the polytrack, but two of his three victories for previous trainer Charles O’Brien came over this mile-and-a-half trip at Dundalk. The Medicean gelding is first reserve for a race over ten furlongs at this venue on Friday, for which he’d have to shoulder a 7lb penalty.
Delighted winning trainer, and father of the winning rider, Paul Flynn remarked: “Ciara gets a right tune out of him. He had a little problem that we thought we couldn’t cure and John (Eastwood, owner) said to leave him in the yard for Ciara to ride. It’s great that she is repaying his faith.
“She’s doing everything right, judging the pace well, and that is her 10lb claim gone now after three wins (all achieved on Power Drive) so she will be able to have a bit more dinner!
“He was rated 67 at his best but today is a career best winning performance.
“We were going to wait for the Final day but he was so well at home we said we wouldn’t hang on for it and took our chance.
“He’s handicapped well over hurdles but he needs quick ground which you don’t get too often. If he gets good ground over hurdles he should do a job.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
