A PULSATING apprentice jockeys’ title race took a couple of further turns as both Adam Caffrey and James Ryan rode doubles on the Polytrack.

Skontonovski was backed from 9/2 to 10/3 for the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap and his supporters watched Caffrey drive him home by a short head near the winning post.

After the seven-year-old gelding, owned by Jimmy Fairhurst and trained by Ado McGuinness, prevailed, Caffrey said: “He travelled well. We probably didn’t go as hard as he ideally likes them to go - I quickened up well, though.

“He was a lot higher today (in the handicap) than before his last win (at Thurles).”

Asserting

Caffrey and McGuinness doubled up with Dark Ace who popped up at 11/1 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden over six furlongs.

This Soldier’s Call colt was making his Polytrack debut after a pair of unplaced runs on turf and showed a good aptitude for the surface.

Caffrey sent him to the front a furlong and a half down and asserted at the furlong pole. From there, they took the honours in comfortable fashion by a length and three parts for owners Michael Keaveney and Damian McCann.

Caffrey said: “We probably actually expected that two runs ago on his first start. He showed us plenty at home. We worked him up here last week on the surface and he worked well. He has done it nicely.

“The main thing was to try and jump and get a little bit of cover if we could, just to get him to switch off. He did and he showed his full potential here today.”

This moved Caffrey level with fellow apprentices Wayne Hassett and James Ryan on 31 winners, however, Ryan quickly moved two ahead of his rivals with his own double.

THE DundalkStadium.com Fillies Maiden looked a deep race on paper and it provided a thrilling finish as Ryan’s Ethical Code (7/1) fended off Mveve and Cradle Of Love by a couple of short heads to score in the colours of Mrs Lynne Lyons.

Shane Lyons, assistant to Ger Lyons, said: “She is starting to show us plenty in the last two months and we have just taken our time and let her come to us - let her tell us when she was ready.

“It just happened that this race presented itself. We love to get a horse to have a run as a two-year-old before we put them away.

“We would have been disappointed if she didn’t win today, she has shown us plenty. She did (travel) and I said to James I was a little bit disappointed she didn’t go away and he said she was as green as grass. She has never been away from home.”

Bad start

Ryan’s brace was secured on Glyde Ranger who overcame a tardy start to win going away in the Happy Halloween Handicap over a mile and a half.

The four-year-old gelding trailed the field before making headway in the straight. He stayed on to lead inside the final furlong and swept home by four lengths at 11/2 for David Daly, Gerard Shevlin and Mrs Denise McCourt.

Trainer Tom McCourt said: “I’m telling the lads one of the days it will fall right for him and that’s the way he would win. I didn’t think he would be giving them a 10-length start, but it shows the ability he has.

“He’s had solid runs and the step up the mile and a half was going to be a plus for him.”

SERENGETI led home a 1-2 for Aidan O’Brien in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over seven furlongs.

The 2/1 shot went for home under Declan McDonogh approaching the final furlong and outgunned his stablemate, 5/4 favourite First Wave, by a length and a quarter for Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Peter M Brant. .

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “They both had very good runs in the Curragh maiden behind Expanded who went on to finish second in the Dewhurst, so it was a fair form line.

“Wayne (Lordan) just felt the last day that the slower ground caught him out (in Leopardstown). He’s a high cruiser and he can quicken and he’s not short of pace. He’s one to look forward to, along with the second horse, for next year. This horse could start off in a Guineas Trial - he’s a fine, big horse.”

Fast as a Ferrari

Ferrari Desert tasted victory for the first time in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap over seven furlongs.

Keithen Kennedy, in Miss Niamh Fahey’s colours, sent the four-year-old filly down the inner and she came through to lead in the final furlong. She passed the post with half a length in hand at 15/2.

“She had a good run in the Curragh (third) the last day and she backed that up today,” trainer Mark Fahey said.

“Keithen gave her a great ride again, he got her to switch off. She can be a little bit temperamental. Our plan was to come down the middle and everything worked out down the inside!”

Redemptive Power justified 3/1 favouritism in the Dundalk Stadium Optional Claiming Race for Gavin Cromwell, and owners Peter McCarrick, E Hughes, J.R. Brennan and Kiva Cromwell.

Robert Whearty produced him to lead a quarter of a mile out and his mount held Dark Viper by half a length at the winning post.

The jockey said: “The race worked out there to suit him and I was just able to edge out and have one go at them. I was grinding it out and I got to the line real well there.”