GREYHOUNDS | Lanney’s victory at Shelbourne Park greeted by large cheers at Dundalk Stadium

The victory of Forest Natalee in last Saturday’s final of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks was warmly received in Dundalk Stadium.

Winning trainer, Martin Lanney, is a regular at the North Louth venue, where racegoers gathered round the screens to watch the big race from Shelbourne Park.

Although marginally slower out of the boxes than Cabra Angel, the superior early pace of Forest Natalee carried her into a clear lead, and she stayed on well to defeat Tibet by a length in 28.37.

A 15/8 shot when betting on the final opened earlier in the week, Forest Natalee proved easy to back thereafter, and was returned at 3/1.

Martin is having another good year at Dundalk. In the Public Trainers’ table, he sits second on 31 wins, behind Laurence Jones, who increased his tally to 34 after Cherrypark Music prevailed on Saturday.

In the Private Trainers’ standings, Ardee’s John Durrigan went third on 10 wins, thanks to Dromrich Blackie, who came good at the sixteenth attempt on Friday.

Other locals on the mark over the weekend included, Nicole McLoughlin, Drogheda (Ballycannon Duke); Paul McDonnell, Castlebellingham (Saratoga Oak); Michael Doyle and Thomas Butterly, Togher (Valeries Master); and Michael Cunningham of Drogheda, with Valeries Express.

OWNERS

Paul Whyte (Lifford) 41
Howard Wallace (England) 25
Laurence Jones (Corduff) 22

PUBLIC TRAINERS

Laurence Jones 34
Martin Lanney (Rathkenny) 31
Francie Murray (Mullingar) 30

PRIVATE TRAINERS

Paul Whyte 48
Ollie Bray (Navan) 17
John Durrigan (Ardee) 10