Ducky Mallon strides home© Photo Healy Racing
Veteran Ducky Mallon showed there is still plenty of dash in his legs as he took the honours in the concluding six-furlong handicap at the Curragh.
He broke well for Rory Cleary who was content to then let him slot in behind the leaders on the far side of this big field.
Cleary pushed the 11-year-old grey to the front inside the final quarter of a mile. Ducky Mallon was an enthusiastic partner as he set soon sail for home.
He was ridden in the final furlong and kept on strongly to fend off Lion Ring (17/2) by three parts of a length. Tammany Hall on his first start for Patrick McKenna, was half a length further back in third at 12/1 from 33s in the morning. Stanhope (22/1) completed the placings in fourth.
Donal Kinsella, breeder/owner/trainer, said: “He's eleven, he's extremely happy; he's poetry in motion and we love him very much.
“We were very concerned and I had sleepless nights about whether I'd run him on that ground because he wants give in it.
“He had an accident nearly two years ago, he chipped a bone in his near fore and the chip is still in there.
“Every time we run him is a bonus, and to think not alone a bonus but we get a winner.
“He's a star. He controls the yard, he has his own box and nobody is allowed to get past unless they go and see him first. At least that's the way I think about it.
“We nearly had a double (Wayne R Walker was runner-up in the preceding race, the apprentice handicap) but it'll come one day.”
Ducky Mallon had been off since November 2020 before returning with a runner-up finish in a Sligo handicap in early August. This was his ninth career success from 76 appearances.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
