Listowel report: David Casey, back from serious injury just nine days ago, visited the winner's enclosure for the first time in six months when riding Strong Project to a hard fought win in the Southampton Goodwill Chase at Listowel yesterday.
Casey, who returned to action at Tipperary last week, showed no signs of ring-rust when giving Charlie Swan's Strong Project a fine ride to hold the staying on challenge of Banasan by three-parts of a length. Swan was one of the first to praise the winning rider, who fractured two vertebrae in his neck at Fairyhouse last Easter. "David gave the horse a super ride and really deserved the win. Strong Project had been working well and he's a tough warrior. He's had problems but will run in the National Lottery Chase at Gowran next month if he comes out of this alright," said Swan.
Vastly experienced jockey Pat Shanahan recorded a 67 to 1 double at the meeting, with the first leg coming on 16 to 1 shot Vicky Lane in the opening Liam O'Flaherty Handicap.
Landing her first win in 17 starts, the daughter of Victory Note was held up before making steady headway to lead under one furlong out, for a length win over Platonic Affair.
Winning trainer Seamus Fahey reported: "First time blinkers really helped and she will now go for something similar again."
Ninety minutes later Shanahan was on board his 23rd winner of the season, partnering Manor Law to win the Jet O'Carroll Memorial Handicap for his employer Con Collins.
Michael Grassick's Indalo Bay landed a gamble to win the Dillon Plant Hire Maiden under Niall McCullagh. Grassick later reported that the 7 to 1 winner (backed from 10 to 1) "is a big tall horse who has taken a long time to mature - the ground was too fast for him last time at Fairyhouse".
Harry Rogers's Skerries made it two wins at the track in a week when running out the two-length winner of the Guinness Handicap. Skerries, again ridden by Declan McDonogh, "will be aimed at another handicap before the season ends and will be kept in training next year", according to Rogers.
Ruby Walsh continued on his winning ways when guiding Classic Approach to win the John J Galvin Maiden Hurdle for trainer John Queally.
Dubawi can emerge triumphant from the battle of the big three with victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Newmarket today.
With the Godolphin three-year-old almost certain to get the good ground he craves for, the mount of Frankie Dettori is taken to prove too strong for Rakti and Starcraft.
Although there is little to separate the three principals in terms of quality, Dubawi acts best when there is a bit of ease underfoot - as he showed when cruising to a facile victory in the Prix Jaques le Marois last time out.
Indeed, his only disappointing outing in a glittering career was on good to firm ground when he finished fifth behind Footstepsinthesand in the 2,000 Guineas.
