TRAINER Ger O’Leary and owners Lance Bloodstock Limited doubled up in the first two races with Mehman (5/6 favourite) the first to strike in the Floodlit Fridays At Dundalk Handicap over six furlongs.

The six-year-old tracked the leaders and got into a lovely rhythm under Declan McDonogh. After heading Mint Man at the furlong pole, he was nudged out to account for that rival by four and a quarter lengths.

O’Leary said: “We left the tongue-tie off because it was only aggravating him when we were putting it on. Chris Hayes rode him last and he said to take everything off and take the blinkers off as well. He was much more relaxed today.

“Just delighted to get a winner with Declan. He was just telling me that he rode a winner for my dad 30 years ago. That is his first winner for me and I’ve been trying over the years because he is one of the best jockeys of the last 25 years.”

Completed

Jabbar (11/10 favourite) completed the brace when running out an equally facile winner of the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Rated Race over two miles.

Held up in touch by Keithen Kennedy, the winner made headway early in the home straight and led over a furlong out to beat Jerandme by six and a half lengths.

The trainer said: “Then this rated race popped up and we said we would skip Clonmel, the Munster Hurdle on Wednesday, and come here instead. It worked out great and Keithen gave him a lovely ride.

“He will be there or thereabouts anyway (in premier handicaps).

“I’d say he is a summer-soft ground rather than winter heavy, so we will probably mind him now and maybe come back up here and maybe go to Lingfield (Good Friday).”

JAMIE Powell delivered Perfect Judgement (2/1 favourite) with a winning challenge to complete doubles for himself and trainer Stephen Thorne in the Join Us On Instagram @Dundalk_Stadium Handicap over a mile.

Powell bided his time before producing the Shamrock Thoroughbreds four-year-old to head Anvika inside the final furlong for a half-length success. This followed up on a course and distance success in December.

Thorne said: “The mile has really brought out brilliant improvement in the horse and the blinkers as well. It was the change in headgear that sparked him. A combination of the whole lot.

“Hopefully, that will give him plenty of confidence and there might be a nice 0-90 or 0-100 we can target next.”

Opening winner

Shamrock Thoroughbreds are also involved, along with Dooley Thoroughbreds, in Volatile Analyst who was Thorne’s first winner of the evening in the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap over seven furlongs.

The eight-year-old gelding made headway for Jack Kearney inside the final quarter of a mile and came through to lead at the furlong pole. The 85/40 favourite saw it out well by a length and a-half from Free Solo.

Thorne said: “He has been a heartbreak of a horse really. I’m just delighted now for everyone involved because a lot of patience has been required.

“I think it’s 18 months since we bought him. A high-class horse and he’s a horse that brought a lot of form from England to Ireland, but just didn’t really translate it. It has just taken us so long.

“We obviously changed up the headgear - blinkers, tongue-tie applied - and Jack gave him the most wonderful ride. He rode the horse last week (in work) and the horse is in great form.”

Working wonders

A drop back to seven furlongs in the Group Deals Available At Dundalk Stadium Rated Race worked the oracle for Exquisite Acclaim (11/2).

Jamie Powell made all on the winner and they had their rivals in trouble at the business end.

Hightimeyouwon, the 2/1 Thorne-trained favourite, was half a length in arrears at the line.

Sick in hospital

Ado McGuinness said: “I have a young fella works for me, Conan Faulkner, who is sick in hospital and it will give him a boost.

“He’s my travelling head lad. I wish him a speedy recovery and I dedicate this to him. Tom (O’Connor), part owner, is in hospital as well.”

The trainer’s wife, Hazel McGuinness, owns the six-year-old gelding in conjunction with O’Connor.

ELLE Dorado Rock made the breakthrough in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap over two miles.

The 8/1 shot improved to third for Robbie Colgan at the furlong pole and further progress saw him get up close home by a neck for owner John Breslin.

Trainer Tony Martin said: “He is around long enough and was well deserving. He always promised to do something like that and it eventually came. There were some good runs and a lot of days things didn’t go the way they should have.

“He’s done it today and it should have come a lot earlier, but at least it has come. He’ll mix and match (flat and hurdling).”

Nicola Burns picked up a two-day ban for frequency with the whip on runner-up Scott Lang.

Dromore Glory brought up plenty of bets in the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap when he took the honours by a length and three-quarters for trainer Paul Flynn and owner Thomas Lynam.

Rory Cleary steered him to the front inside the final quarter of a mile and the six-year-old gelding kept on well to score at 4/1 having been backed in from 8/1.

Flynn said: “He ran well fresh here last year and, unfortunately, I beat him with one of my own horses! He’s a big, strong horse.

“We had a few problems with health there for a while, we just gave him a good break.”