Round trip of 380 miles pays off for Derry trainer after Sneddy Eddie strikes

A 380-mile round trip paid off for Noel Kelly after Sneddy Eddie snatched his first victory in almost two years for the County Derry-based trainer. 

Carrying 8lb less than his last win in September 2023 and with the ground coming up soft, the five-year-old was well supported into 11-4 for the mile handicap. He showed grit to win by a neck and sent his trainer back on the long drive home with a smile on his face.

"We were up feeding him this morning at 6.30am, so he was due a win for us," Kelly joked. 

"Based on his form he needed soft ground and we were also claiming 7lb off him with Patrick McGettigan, so we fancied him. Patrick is a very nice jockey who can follow instructions and I'll keep using him."

Declaree delights

The Johnny Murtagh-trained Declaree took the biggest pot of the day when she landed the 7f fillies' handicap, worth €14,160 to the winner. 

The 7-2 chance made all and showed a fantastic battling attitude to hold off the fast-closing Four Blondes by a neck under Ben Coen. 

"She wanted it today," Murtagh said. "Ben had a nice position on her and when they came to her she dug deep. 

"She loves this track. She ran well here earlier in the year and she just got a bit bumped around at Roscommon the last day. 

“She's a lovely filly and could be a nice broodmare at the end of the year. You'd love to think she could get a bit of black type and we probably will try to get it with her, but she has a bit to go yet."

Declaree wins the 7f handicap for fillies under Ben CoenCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Wins for Wootton

Leading sire Wootton Bassett produced three of the ten runners in the opening 7f maiden and his offspring subsequently filled two of the top three places. 

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Daytona was notably weak in the market and drifted to 3-1 after opening at 6-4, but the uneasiness about him was misplaced after he exhibited a slick turn of foot to kick away from the field late on, leaving Melismatic back in second. The favourite Seoul Force, who is also by Wootton Bassett, could only manage third.

After winning on his only ride on the card, apprentice rider Jack Cleary said: "He's still a bit green and babyish and he'll improve from that run. He's a big colt and he probably got away with the ground today. He took a while to pull up, which is a good sign that he should get further in time.”

Slattery strikes

Andrew Slattery completed a double on the card after hot favourite Eastwatch landed the 1m1½f Thomastown Race. 

Slattery, who won the 7f handicap earlier in the day with Highbury See See, said: "I think the sky's the limit for Eastwatch when he gets to four years old. He's a big baby and I think he could even be a Melbourne Cup horse in the future."

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