THE 7lb claiming jockey Denis Linehan completed a Dundalk double on Friday night week beginning with an easy win in the opening Hibernia Steel Handicap on the Ger O’Leary-trained Strategic Force.

Previously successful twice at Kempton in 2014 for Clive Cox, the son of Strategic Prince was today winning his first race for O’Leary and made no mistake when easily beating Little Cupcake by three and a quarter lengths.

O’Leary trains the gelding for Lance Bloodstock Limited and Linehan said: “He did it easy, got a good tow into it and got there well.

“Now that’s he’s got his head in front hopefully he can win a few more.”

The claiming apprentice later doubled his score for the evening when teaming up with trainer Paddy Mooney to win the Ashbrook Foods Apprentice Handicap (division 2) with short-head winner Full Shilling (9/1).

Mooney said: “I thought she was just beaten! I was disappointed with her last week as I thought she’d be in the first three but she seemed to get tired in the last furlong then, so we decided to stick her in over seven furlongs and it seemed to suit her.

“We’ll keep her in this grade and she might get a bit of a rest now as she’s after running two weeks in a row; I don’t want to sour her as she’s an old mare and she’s a bit difficult but is a hardy devil.”

Another jockey to record a double was Wayne Lordan who opened his account when steering the Matthew Smith-trained Winter Lion (3/1) to a seventh career success in the featured €24,000 Vodatrade Marketing&Website Services Handicap.

The dual hurdle winner scored a fifth flat success when beating Venezia by five and a half lengths and Smith explained: “He did it well and stepping up the extra half-mile to two miles really suited him. Over a mile and a half last time he was just finding things happening a bit quick for him.

“Hurdling is the plan really with him. We said we’d keep him going when he was in good form. He wants good ground and is a serious hurdler.”

Lordan completed his double in the concluding Bar One Racing Handicap on the Pat Martin-trained neck winner Lady Rosebud.

Martin said: “That’s good - eventually! I really fancied her two runs back but it just didn’t happen and the last day, six (furlongs) was a bit sharp for her. She was a good bit better than her mark was.

“We had her mother and I think she won seven races between hurdling and the flat - she wasn’t as precocious as this one was early on. She has a lovely owner (Derek Molloy).”

RED’S TREBLE

Another notable feat on the night was the win of Red Avenger (9/2), who rattled off a three-month treble under jockey Rory Cleary, for his new trainer Damian English in the Dundalk Racing Club Handicap.

The son of War Front was purchased for just 14,000gns last October, from Britain, and today followed up earlier October and November wins at the Co Louth venue with his third Irish win for Grougha Stables Limited.

English said: “He’s a grand old horse and he’s got his appetite for the game back. Rory just took his time and gave him a peach of a ride.

“He’ll come back in two weeks’ time for something similar and then we’ll put him away until the fast-track qualifier in March.

“He should come on from this and if he comes on from the next one, that’ll leave him right there for the qualifier.”

51 STARTS

Trainer Ger Lyons and Colin Keane have again done well at the venue this winter and landed the Total Produce Ireland Claiming Race with Toccata Blue, who was later claimed by trainer John Larkin for €15,000.

The seven-year-old Toccata Blue was later reported by Shane Lyons, brother of the winning trainer, to be “a character in the yard’’.

He added “It’s his 51st start and he’s been a great servant to us and Damian Nolan, who lives in Paris, has had him since he was a yearling. He never runs a bad race and the handicapper could handicap a race through him. We’re delighted to win with him.”

Trainer Michael Halford and jockey Conor Hoban are themselves no strangers to Dundalk success and landed the Servisource Recruitment Maiden with 2/1 favourite Time Constraints, for owner Wendy O’Leary.

Halford reported: “He’s getting better with racing - the first night he walked out of the stalls and was lost. He’s just one of those colts - a laid back lad and is getting better with each run. Conor (Hoban) said he got a bit lonely in front but when they came to him, he shook him up and went again.

“We’ll probably keep him going but he could be sold also.”

Arbourfield’s trainer Prunella Dobbs expressed her delight after the gelding landed the Ashbrook Foods Apprentice Handicap (division 1), under jockey Robbie Downey.

Dobbs said: “With both him and Carried, my other Dundalk horse, the wonderful thing is that they usually bring prize money home. It’s his third win here - when they like it here it’s a huge bonus.’’

Horse To Follow:

JACKMEL (M. Smith) He has finished second on his last two starts and should be able to pick up a maiden at the venue in the coming weeks.

Acting Stewards:

N.B. Wachman, Ms D. Brophy, F. Cahill, H. Lappin, S. Quinn