Impressive Bumper Win Completes Walk In The Park Double

Impressive point-to-point winner Down Memory Lane (5g Walk In The Park - Credo Star, by Presenting) lived up to expectations on his rules debut, as he quickened clear to win Saturday’s bumper at Fairyhouse.

Bought by Peter and Ross Doyle at the store sales for €75,000, the son of Walk In The Park drew nine and a half lengths clear in a four-year-old maiden on debut for Jonathan Fogarty. Purchased privately by JP McManus after that performance, the bay was sent off favourite on his first start for Gordon Elliott and travelled strongly throughout under Derek O’Connor.

Improving to join the leaders on the turn for home, he led approaching the two furlong marker and was asked to quicken a furlong from home. Running on well, he was soon clear and won by a comfortable four and a half lengths.

“He's a nice horse,” commented Gordon Elliott after the race. “I'd imagine we'll leave him alone until next year.”

Bred by Cathal Ennis, Down Memory Lane provides an important update for his yearling full-sister, who like her brother, was bought as a foal by Redpender Stud.

Walk In The Park sired another bumper winner earlier that afternoon, when Beat The Bat (5g Walk In The Park - Dani Salamanca, by Presenting) built on a promising debut to get off the mark at Chepstow.

Harry Fry’s charge was beaten a whisker in December, when the leading pair finished clear of the field, and he sent off favourite to go one better on Saturday. Reunited with Bryan Carver, he raced in touch with the leaders and improved to lead approaching the final furlong. Ridden soon after, he ran on well to score by a length and a half, with another seven lengths back to the third.

Beat The Bat is owned by the Twelfth Man Partnership and was bred by Kevin McCarthy.