Theobald (noseband) and Kevin Manning hold on from Trevena and Conor Hoban© Photo Healy Racing
The featured Windsor Bar & Restaurant Handicap at Dundalk went the way of Theobald (9/4 2nd favourite) for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning.
The chestnut Teofilo colt was prominent and led after a furlong. Pushed along two furlongs out and ridden over a furlong out, Theobald kept on well under pressure inside the final furlong, holding on by a short head from Trevena (25/1).
That daughter of Camelot was making her debut for Denis Hogan.
Favourite Ming (7/4) was a length and three parts back in third.
“Jim sort of left it to myself. I didn't see a lot of pace in the race and he said to me when you leave the gates if you are in front you are in front and ride your own race from there if that's what happens,” said Manning.
“I got it nice and easy in front and was able to set my own fractions. He did it well.
“The last night here I even felt that a faster run race would have suited him over the mile.
“Trip was never really a big concern, I was quite happy with a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter.
“He's a great big striding horse and I just wanted to get him up to top gear and get him rolling. He doesn't do anything in two strides and the further we went up the straight the more he was lengthening.
“I thought from the horse gate up he wasn't doing a great deal for me which often happens here, they just go by the horse gate and drop a gear after being in front for so long. He was in front from flag-fall but I was happy with how he did it.
“It's a great pot and he's been very consistent up here. That opens up more opens.”
(GC & EM)
