Richard O'Brien strikes with well backed favourite Golden Valour justified strong market confidence to win the Happy Christmas From Dundalk Stadium Maiden at Dundalk today for trainer Richard O'Brien, owner Frank Lynch and jockey Chris Hayes. The son of Kingman was generally a 5/2 chance at kick-off this morning and having been backed throughout the day, opened the 5/4 favourite before returning the heavily supported even money favourite. Supporters of Chris Hayes' mount had few anxious moments as the three year old went by his rivals in the home straight before scoring a two lengths win over Bashful Boy. Winning trainer Richard O’Brien was double-jobbing on lead-up duty as he reported “he’s been running well especially the last twice but he needed to go and do that. “We might not be in a rush now. Chris said maybe to allow him to develop as he’s not quite the horse that he can become.” Jockey Hayes added “he’s a big baby and got a bit worked up in the gates. He was very keen with me here two starts back and I said to change the bit to a chifney and he hated it. I couldn’t get him to drop his head. “He is still a bit fresh and silly and I said to Richard to let that be a confidence booster and give him a nice break for a couple of months over the winter. “He’s a beautiful mover and he hops off that surface so I’d imagine on good ground he possibly would get a bit further and could pick up a nice pot.” Quotes from Alan Magee
