Lynam and Caffrey do like to be beside the sea

Dunshaughlin trainer Eddie Lynam made the short trip to the seaside an enjoyable one as he saddled Punk Poet for his wife Aileen to win the ONeills.com Handicap on the strand at Laytown this evening.

Kilkenny jockey Tom Hamilton produced a fine display of horsemanship to stay on board his mount on the sand as his saddle slipped early in the race.

The four-time Dundalk winner was in the front rank and took a definite advantage from halfway by which point Hamilton's saddle had clearly shifted to the left.

He rode the final quarter mile with his left stirrup noticeably lower than his right one and had to readjust himself a couple of times, but his six-year-old mount was clearly enjoying the surface and strode out well to beat Henry deBromhead's Barbapapa by three and a-quarter lengths.

"I've never had a slipped saddle before that I can remember," recalled Lynam.

"This is a big fat fella (Punk Poet)! When I was saddling him, I said 'they're a bit tight' and I let the girths out.

"The jockey, in fairness, got them checked at the start. He only jumped out and it (saddle) has gone.

"Sarah (Lynam's daughter) picked the jockey and said he was very good and I said to Sarah two and a-half out 'you know nothing' but, in fairness to him, there was nothing he could do! I always blame the jockey!" concluded the trainer.

Lusk trainer Ado McGuinness enjoyed a double on the strand, including providing a winner for Clonalvy apprentice Adam Caffrey when Allo Arry landed the Pride of Place 7f Maiden.

Caffrey settled behind the leaders early on for owner Sabina Kelly and was in fourth three furlongs out. He was rideen to press the leaders one and halfd out and went to shade the verdict by a head from even money favourite Expound.

McGuinness's other winner came in the opener when Dream today landed the 6f Sun, Sea and Tote Guarantee Handicap at odds of 6/4 from Tamazu.

MORE PHOTOS FROM TONIGHT'S MEETING IN NEXT TUESDAY'S MEATH CHRONICLE