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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Dual-purpose Sands on the mark again

Fri 11th Oct 2013, 21:34

Ancient Sands is driven out by Pat Smullen to take the 1m4f handicapAncient Sands is driven out by Pat Smullen to take the 1m4f handicap
© Photo Healy Racing

Ancient Sands followed up a hurdle win at Ballinrobe last month by justifying solid support in the concluding mile and a half handicap at Dundalk.

The 11/4 favourite (available at 4/1 this morning) travelled sweetly under Pat Smullen to lead early in the straight, and was driven right out inside the final furlong by the former champion.

The Footstepsinthesand gelding, successful on his only previous outing on the Polytrack two years ago, kept on well under pressure to beat Tooreen Legend (16/1) by three quarters of a length.

The well-backed Polished Rock (5/1) was just a short-head further back in third.

Winning trainer Joanna Morgan said “He’s a big strong horse. He has plenty of pace, which you need around here, and won over seven as a two-year-old. He loves that surface as he wants real quick ground. Pat said we should run him a few more times here over the winter.

“He’s in Monday and Tuesday at Limerick and the Curragh, and will probably run at one of them before the ground changes.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.