CAPTAIN Joy booked his ticket to All-Weather Championships Finals day with a determined victory in the Sun BETS Race at Dundalk.

Successful in the Mile event at Lingfield's Good Friday showpiece in 2016, Tracey Collins' gallant grey will be heading back there after this 10th career win – eight of which have come at Dundalk.

The 7/2 chance tracked the front-running Geological until heading inside the final quarter-mile and picked up really well for Pat Smullen to dispose of Beach Bar by three-quarters of a length.

Collins said of her nine-year-old: "He's a star. He's a very genuine, consistent horse and I must say Hazel (Wallace) looks after him and she does a super job. She rides work for us, she drives the box – she's a great girl.

"She's done an awful lot of work with him and he takes a lot of work. He's getting that bit older now that he takes a little bit more.

"If they were all as honest as him life would be very easy. He was off the track for a long time and has come on well from the run the last day.

"Not too many have won three qualifiers and he'll go straight to Lingfield now."

DOUBLE

Smullen had earlier been on the mark with the Michael Halford-trained newcomer Karakour (7/1) in the Meridian Security Ltd Maiden, the gelding showing resolution which belied his inexperience.

After taking the lead off Bye Bye Brussels halfway down the straight, the grey looked a sitting duck when pressed by Griffyndor, Irish Minister and Bonnie Baugh.

He stuck his neck out really well for Pat Smullen, though, and flashed past the post a head in front of Griffyndor at odds of 7/1.

Halford said: "I was delighted with him. He's a very green horse and it's a lot to ask first time out from a wide draw. Pat did really well to get a good position on him and when he was challenged, he tries really hard.

"There is a lot of improvement in him. He's a typical Aga Khan horse as he's lazy at home but he did well to rally back.

"I didn't think he was sharp enough on his home work to win first time out so he's done well to win."

DUBLIN FESTIVAL

She's A Star denied Elishpour a hat-trick in a thrilling finish to the Marshes Shopping Centre Handicap.

Elishpour had gone up only 4lb for a couple of narrow victories here before the turn of the year, and travelled strongly into contention a couple of furlongs from the finish.

She's A Star went with him, though, and the pair were locked together during the final furlong, only for the Noel Meade-trained 4/1 chance to have her head down where it mattered.

Meade said: "She's run a few good races, but a lot of the time they haven't been going quick enough and she's run very free and takes a lot out of herself.

"She goes to Leopardstown for the mares' handicap hurdle at the Dublin Festival meeting next month. She ran well at Leopardstown at Christmas but she was too free and was getting too much daylight."

Reckless Lad registered his seventh victory at this circuit in the Anglo Printers Claiming Race.

The 9/2 co-favourite came there full of running early in the straight and after taking it up a furlong out, was kept going by Killian Leonard to keep Six Silver Lane half a length at bay.

Trainer Pat Martin said: "He can't compete in handicaps any more and we'll stay in claimers now. He's won seven races here and has been a great servant. Killian gave him a great ride."

Guanabara Bay (7/2 favourite) prevailed in a tight finish to the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Apprentice Handicap (Div 1) in the hands of Robbie Downey, and 20/1 shot Gunmaker made a successful start for Gavin Cromwell in division two.

READ THE FULL DUNDALK REPORT IN NEXT WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD