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President finds nice opportunity

Lost President and Donagh O'Connor beat Senior Montecristo Lost President and Donagh O'Connor beat Senior Montecristo
© Photo Healy Racing

Lost President came with a well-timed surge to land the spoils in the three-year-old handicap at Dundalk.

The Ross O’Sullivan-trained colt stepped up two furlongs, to a mile, on his second outing in handicap company and went to post a 10/3 shot.

Donagh O’Connor asked his mount to close passing the two pole. He challenged Senior Montecristo inside the final furlong and got on top in the closing stages to score by three-parts-of-a-length.

O'Sullivan said: "He was up in trip and got a good ride. Donagh had ridden him early on in the year and he liked him. He rode him work last week and he was very happy with the work.

"He had a few little niggles in December, and I was hoping to get a run into him just before Christmas and he couldn't get it. We just had to bide our time.

"Three-year-old only races seem to be kind of weak enough at this time of year and seem to have small fields - it actually worked out grand.

"I was hoping when Ado won the other night (with Movin And Groovin that he wouldn't declare again!

"He had shown enough during the year to suggest that he would win a race. When you get into January in Dundalk, it is just found is a bit easier.

“You can make a little bit of hay this time of year when it is easier. It is great that January and February is here, it just gives you a chance with those horses.

"He's no superstar, but he is capable of winning a race or two in his own level.

"He got the mile well there. It gives us another option and you could step up. Possibly, he could jump a hurdle later on in the year. We'll see how he steps up to a mile and a-quarter as we move on through the year.

"He's a grand horse." 

(Quotes by Michael Graham)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.