LIMERICK’S mid-November meeting was most notable for a debut win by Bruff trainer Jack Bennett.
He scored with 16/1 shot Dancing After Dark in a Handicap Hurdle of €10,000.
She was guided home by Philip Donovan and is owned locally by Kate Costello and family of the award-winning Locke Bar on George’s Quay.
“That is unbelievable as I never thought I’d experience it,” beamed Bennett. I have had the licence for a long time and have had a few placed horses down through the years, but breaking and pre-training is our main gig.
“We have a handful of point-to-pointers, she is the only horse we have for the track and I bred her myself.
“The Costellos bought her from me before she won her maiden point-to-point and were very good to leave her with me. They have been very good and very patient and I’m glad to repay them with a winner.
“She won two point-to-points well but for whatever reason, we couldn’t get it together on the track. We have now, though, and this is local to us and to the owners, so is great.”
Dancing After Dark is likely to reappear for the upcoming Christmas Racing Festival at Greenmount Park, said Bennett.
Earlier on the card, trainer Eric McNamara and jockey Calum Hogan, both from Rathkeale, scored with Hees Dynamite (15/8f) in another Handicap Hurdle of €10,000.
“The young lad is riding well, the plan was to keep out wide and the horse jumped well,” McNamara commented. “I’m delighted for John Earls (owner) who has been friends for a long, long time.”
Jack Holiday (5/2f), owned by Florence and Patricia McCarthy of Fedamore, was another popular winner at the well-attended midweek fixture.
