OSTRAKA sprang a 66/1 shock in the featured William Hill Top Price Guarantee Mercury Stakes at Dundalk to give apprentice title contender James Ryan his first group winner.

The Profitable filly broke smartly in the Group 3 contest over five furlongs before taking a lead. In front passing the furlong pole, the 83-rated performer stuck on gamely when asked for an effort in the closing stages and held the late charge of Powerful Nation to record a head victory. Electric Storm fared best of the five British-trained runners in third.

Trainer Danny Murphy said of Anthony Challoner’s winner: “I’m shell-shocked, but I did fancy her. I did like the mare and she was working great. I believe that a lot of these sprints - and we won it last year - are all in the break.

Repeat performance

“Last night, I sent young James the video of Dun Na Sead winning this last year and I said that he had to do exactly the same. He did it and didn’t panic. He kept a little bit for the last 100 yards. She will be a nice mare next year and I could even travel with her. She likes firm ground.”

Murphy was completing a double after Eclairage (12/1) led her rivals a merry dance, when making all in the Christmas Party Nights Nursery.

Siobhan Murphy’s daughter of Kuroshio was smartly away and took them along under Declan McDonogh, who steered her to the stands’ side in the straight. Clear at the furlong pole, the winner held on by half a length from Bobbi Rosa.

Murphy said: “I really thought she could win and I put Declan up because he is brilliant out of the gates.”

JOHNNY Murtagh was another Curragh trainer to land a brace of winners and Pascalia (17/2) got the ball rolling in the fillies’ claimer.

The daughter of Churchill, owned by the Brunabonne Syndicate, grabbed the lead inside the final quarter-mile and kept on well to beat Catherine Chroi by a length.

Winning rider Ben Coen said: “She was out of things a bit on ratings, but myself and Johnny thought if she showed up, she would be bang there.”

Darragh O’Sullivan picked up an eight-day suspension for careless riding aboard fifth-home Alabama Calling.

No drawing blanks

Murtagh’s second winner was Blanc De Noir (5/1), who swooped from last to first to get up on the line and claim the William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap.

Rory Mulligan was in the plate again, having partnered the four-year-old to success at Fairyhouse last month.

The Showcasing gelding, owned by JP Murtagh Racing, powered home down the far side to prevail by a short-head from Rattletheonionbag in what was a blanket finish.

Mulligan said: “I’d say the last win gave him plenty of confidence. Today, I was able to ride him cold and he flew down the inside again in the last furlong.”

Close call

Murtagh was narrowly denied a treble when Coen’s mount Dakota Blue was beaten on the nod in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over a mile.

Victory here went to the Jack Davison-trained Glenderry (7/1), who led from early in the straight and dug deep to fend off Dakota Blue by a head.

The son of Mohaather, who had been runner-up in a Curragh maiden on debut, is owned by the Glass Half Full Partnership and Davison said: “I said to Billy that he is a lovely big galloping horse and would get the trip well. He’s about 16.2hh and it would be a shame not to use that stride.

“Billy said he could be a mile and two horse, but then again he will get stronger over the winter. He’s so big that he could end up just being a better miler. Time will tell.”

PERSIAN Bliss (14/1) made a winning debut in the 10-furlong maiden for AMO Racing and retained rider David Egan.

The Adrian Murray-trained colt tracked the leaders and made his bid down the stands’ side in the straight. On terms with market leader Ozark Daze a furlong out, he edged ahead in the closing stages to post a half-length win over that rival. The son of Advertise, a €70,000 yearling, is a half-brother to listed winner Alwasmiya.

Egan said: “I thought he did well from a wide draw to get into a lovely position in a great rhythm. I found when the second horse came to him, he actually found a bit more for pressure.

“It is quite intimidating your first run here under the lights and, when he hit the front, he was getting a bit lonely, but he showed a great attitude. He has an engine under the bonnet and, the way he hit the line, you’d like to think he might even get a bit further.

“He gave himself every chance and got into a nice rhythm to run his best race, and he has done just that. He’s a big, scopey type and can only do better with time.”

Angelic

Trainer Andy Oliver is enjoying a good run of form and Marble Angel (13/2) picked up the View Restaurant Dundalk Apprentice Handicap under Jack Kearney.

Winning for the third time in her last four visits to this venue, the daughter of Harry Angel hit the front travelling well early in the straight and swept home by two and a half lengths from Velvet Skies.

Oliver said of J P Ledwidge’s winner: “I’m pleased she has won three. We persevered with her into her four-year-old career, because we thought there was something there. It took a while, but at least we got it right eventually! She’s going to Newmarket Sales, so she is on the boat tonight for her trouble!”