HUGH Horgan has started the year well at Dundalk and partnered his first treble that included the winners of the two feature races on the card.

He had to work hard on 3/10 favourite Magellan Strait in Irishinjuredjockeys.com Race, as Longclaw set out to make all over the two-mile trip and wasn’t for passing.

Joseph O’Brien’s 2023 Irish Cesarewitch winner challenged the front-runner in the final quarter of a mile, but couldn’t get the better of him until he dropped his head on the line for owner Ray Grehan.

Horgan said: “He ground it out, it was his first run back for a while and I think he had a break after his last run. It was also his first go on the surface and I think it suits him. He’s good and lazy and makes you work for it. There is definitely improvement in him, he’ll improve a lot for that as he had a nice blow afterwards.”

O’Brien’s San Andreas went off at the prohibitive price of 1/20 for the Story Of Dundalk Stadium Book Available Online Race over seven furlongs and, in truth, his backers never had a moment’s worry.

He faced just two opponents and Horgan made all on him, with the pair cruising home unchallenged by six lengths for the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate. The Dark Angel gelding posted his eighth career victory, with six wins accrued on the all-weather at Dundalk.

Horgan said: “He knows this place well and he’s so consistent. Seven [furlongs] is his optimum trip and he put it to bed pretty easily when we turned in.”

Molloy homebred

Horgan earned praise from Shane Crawley after steering Tyrone Molloy’s Dreams Fled Away home in the second division of the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap over a mile and a half.

This five-year-old gelding burst through into contention a furlong and a-half down, and led in the closing stages before going on by three lengths at 7/1.

Crawley said: “Hugh rode a filly for me, Trishuli River, and I was really impressed with that. I know he might be winning with good-calibre horses with Joseph and doing everything right, but I think he’s an old head on young shoulders.”

DREAM Today got 2lb from the handicapper for winning at Dundalk at the end of November and went in again for Ado McGuinness in the Floodlit Fridays At Dundalk Handicap over six furlongs.

Cian MacRedmond manoeuvred him into contention approaching the final furlong and the pair grabbed the lead with 150 yards to race. They kept on well to pass the post with three quarters of a length in hand for Shamrock Thoroughbreds.

McGuinness said of the 7/2 joint-favourite: “We kept him fresh. I suppose it is hard to win two up here, but the handicapper didn’t kill him the last day. He doesn’t win by lengths either, he just does enough.”

Comer continues good run

Second reserve Gains Of War relished his handicap debut as he popped up at 66/1 for owner-trainer Luke Comer in the Join Us On Our Social Channels Handicap over two miles.

Nathan Crosse brought him across from stall 17 to track Kashi and disputed the lead a furlong out. The War Command gelding found generously for Crosse to lead in the closing stages and scored by half a length.

The winning rider said: “I got him up on the front end and he keeps galloping. He was good and game to the line. He had a little bit of a wind issue, but I think they got that sorted.”

This was Comer’s second win of the week at Dundalk, also registering three seconds and three thirds in the previous week, while Crosse was bringing up his fourth Dundalk winner in the space of a week.

MACADAM’S Rock progressed from mid-division to take the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap.

Joey Sheridan asked him for more in the final quarter of a mile and he improved to third racing in the final furlong. Sheridan kept the momentum up to grab the lead close home and his willing partner kept on well to win by a length at 16/1 for owner John Meagher.

Sheridan said: “Fair play to Martin [Ferris] and Hilary [McLoughlin], they said to me they thought he had a chance and to ride him cold.

“It all worked out well. I was able to kind of slipstream them down to past the half-furlong pole and he won well in the end. It was a fair effort, especially after such a long layoff.”

Chavajod collects

Paddy Harnett came in for a winning spare ride on Chavajod (11/2) in the Gateway Hotel Dundalk Race & Stay Handicap.

The grey son of Toronado led over a furlong out and saw off Hightimeyouwon by half a length for Denis and Patrick Coakley, Joseph Costello and Arthur Connick.

“Denis [Coakley, trainer] does a great job with his horses. He keeps everything so fresh, but fit as well,” said Harnett

“Wesley [Joyce, who was booked for the ride] was ill today and I feel for him missing a winner, but it’s great to be able to be put up on this lad. He has such a big heart.”

Rock on top

Secret Rock was backed from 11/2 to 3/1 joint-favourite to land the first division of the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap, and deliver he did.

Jake Coen drove him to the front approaching the final furlong and the Newtown Anner Stud five-year-old came in by a length and a quarter.

Trainer Tony Martin said: “The young fella was excellent on him and everything went well. We’ll mix and match with him, he won over hurdles at Wexford and on the flat at Roscommon with Jake’s brother, Ben, on board.”