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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Xpress too sharp for rivals in Dundalk opener

Thu 16th Mar 2023, 17:12

Sam's Xpress and Oisin McSweeney lead them homeSam's Xpress and Oisin McSweeney lead them home
© Photo Healy Racing

Sam's Xpress blitzed his rivals with an impressive front-running performance in the opening five-furlong handicap at Dundalk.

Oisin McSweeney bounced out to lead on the Kieran Cotter-trained gelding who had opened his account over six here last month.

The 10/3 favourite had the legs of his rivals early and travelled easily in the lead down the straight.

McSweeney asked his mount to quicken away over a furlong from home and he galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a three-and-three-quarters length success over Teddy Boy

"He got a 13lb penalty the last day but he was 4lb out of the handicap, so in effect he was 9lb and we claimed 5lb. So we were saying it was a 4lb penalty,” said Cotter.

"He has loads of boot, piles of boot. He showed a nice bit last year but had a bit of trouble with sore shins and that.

"He won nicely.

"He could turn out next week on Sunday in a three-year-old only handicap in Naas or we might look for a decent pot for him, we'll see what the handicapper does.

"I think the dam is a half-sister to the good horse that Ger Lyons has, Power Under Me, so that is where it (pace) comes from.

"His full brother (Bodean) runs over a mile here later."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)

1st
10/3Fav
Tote €4.34 €1.60
2nd
3.75L
12/1
€3.40
3rd
0.75L
14/1
€2.50
4th
0.5L
28/1
About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.