‘Patch’ upsets the odds to kick off Leonard double

SNOW PATCH ran out a shock winner of the five-furlong nursery at Dundalk yesterday.

Sent off the 8/1 outsider of four, the only filly in the field proved much too strong for her male counterparts as she recorded a three-quarters-of-a-length success.

Snow Patch was quickly sent to the front by jockey Killian Leonard and with hot-favourite It’s Two O Clock never a factor, the pair were able to dictate matters before kicking clear with a couple of furlongs to run and the result was never in any doubt thereafter.

Trainer Darren Bunyan said afterwards: “If ever a little filly was entitled to a win, this one is.

“She’s been so out of luck on her last few runs. Even the last night she was just beaten on the last bob of the head.

“She’s not over-big but she doesn’t half make up for it with determination and strength. I’m delighted for the syndicate as this is their first year with horses and that’s their first winner tonight. There are a great bunch.

“Unfortunately, they weren’t here tonight but I’m sure they’ll enjoy it just the same. There is a mix of people between Ireland and England. Killian said this filly isn’t overly in love with this surface but by the time things came right for her at the end of the year we had nowhere else to go.

“We might just mind her for the grass now. I think she’s earned a break. It would have been a shame to put her away without getting a win as she had genuine excuses. She’s all speed and she’s a filly they’re going to have plenty of fun with next year if she’s not sold in the meantime.”

The second division of the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap went the way of Fashaar (20/1) which narrowly opened his account for the in-form pair of Anthony McCann and Conor McGovern.

PRESSURE

The top-weight could be seen travelling noticeably well as one by one his rivals came under pressure but he still looked green and inexperienced when asked to put the race to bed and was all out to hold off a sustained challenge from Latchet by a neck.

The first division went the way of No Approval (5/1) which got the better of Rosenborg Rider by a length and a quarter.

The Aido McGuinness-trained Free To Roam (5/1) returned to winning ways in the six-furlong handicap as Leonard chalked up a second victory on the card.