Dobbs brings home a 52/1 double
THREE WEXFORD jockeys were heavily engaged in the big televised meeting at Ascot on Saturday, with Pat Dobbs (Enniscorthy), Pat McDonald (Taghmon) and Jimmy Fortune (Ferns) all having lots of rides. The honours went to Dobbs, who scored a 52/1 double.
He struck first in the 30,000 pounds EBF fillies maiden when a clear winner on Amabilis (11/2) for Ralph Beckett, well clear of favourite Havre De Paix (11/4) for Kieran Shoemark.
He scored again with a royal winner on Elector (7/1), trained by Sir Michael Stoute for Queen Elizabeth. He got home by half a length from Pat McDonald on Ed Dunlop’s Agar’s Plough (5/1).
Dobbs went very close to a treble as he was only beaten by a neck on Melting Dew (16/1) for Stoute, behind Duke of Bronte (16) for Brian Millman.
Jimmy Quinn (New Ross) had a couple of booked rides at the other big meeting at Haydock but was out of luck, with one non-runner and a 5th place in the concluding 100,000 pound handicap. Tom O’Brien went to Stratford for one ride in the concluding bumper for Evan Williams, but Norm the Storm could only finish 5th.
Earlier in the week, Pat McDonald kept the Wexford flag flying once again with four wins.
He scored at Goodwood on Monday on Showroom (7/2f) for Mark Johnston, and at Kempton on Wednesday. Pat Dobbs had half a length to spare on Ventura Blues (11/4jf) for Richard Hannon.
McDonald was on the mark again on Thursday at Haydock on Donjuan Triumphant (4/1) for Andrew Balding and kept up his strike rate Haydock on Friday on Awake My Soul (8/1) for Tom Tate. He had his fourth win of the week on Blue Hussar at a handsome 12/1 at York on Sunday, bringing his tally for the season to 74, and 10th place in the British flat rankings.