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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Dundalk specialist Chiclet reigns supreme

Tue 12th Jul 2016, 16:47

Chiclet, red cap, leads the field in DundalkChiclet, red cap, leads the field in Dundalk
© Photo Healy Racing

The featured Marshes Handicap looked an ultra-competitive sprint on paper but Chiclet turned it into a procession.

The five-year-old mare was winning her fifth race over Dundalk's five furlongs and did so impressively.

She sported a hood for the first time and blasted away from stall five to lead under Pat Smullen.

As she motored into the final quarter of a mile, all of her rivals were well off the bridle.

Pat Smullen was motionless as she held a three length lead approaching the final furlong.

His mount was shaken up to go and win her race and zoomed home in the final furlong to win by two and three quarter lengths.

She was returned the 7/2 favourite having been as big as 8/1 in the morning.

Handler Tracey Collins said: “I'm delighted. It's a relief as we haven't had a winner in a while so I'm absolutely thrilled.

“She's very good up here. She loves a bend and handles it well. Pat gave her a super ride. She has gotten a bit buzzy but went down well.

“The hood definitely helped. She has only gotten buzzy on her last two starts and got very upset at the Curragh. The ground was also very soft there.

“She's become a real sprinter. She has two ways of going, walking and flat out.

“We'll probably step up into a Listed race now. She always has a gap between her races and I was a bit apprehensive coming back here after two weeks.

“She was in good form so we let her take her chance. If it had been anywhere else she wouldn't have run but this is her track.” Primo Uomo at 11/1 and Go Kart (16/1) filled the minor places.

Aside from Dundalk, Chiclet landed a five furlong maiden at Navan in October 2014.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.