JUST over a fortnight on from her initial success at the Curragh, Nicola Burns registered a second when guiding Sporting Hero (11/2) to victory in the opening Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Claiming Race.

Leading home a 1-2 for Denis Hogan, the Bobby’s Kitten four-year-old had a protracted tussle with stable companion Land Lover from the two-furlong pole, with just a short head between them at the line.

The only claim made was a friendly one for the Winning Chance Syndicate-owned victor, who had a price tag of €8,000.

“He came off the bridle early enough, but kept at it,” Burns reflected.

“It is nice to get the second winner and hopefully a few more to come now. I did a lot of pony racing and it was definitely a great grounding and helped a lot. I’m still in school and doing the Leaving Cert.”

Brothers in arms

There was another notable 1-2 in the Follow Us On Social Media Maiden, with Danny Sheehy on Delacree leading home younger brother Mikey on Authenticate.

Placed seven times from eight starts, the Johnny Murtagh-trained victor was well-fancied to take this seven-furlong contest, going off the clear favourite at 4/7.

Sent straight to the front, the Newton Anner Stud Farm Ltd-owned bay made all and readily stretched clear when pushed along in the straight, eventually feasing to a four and a quarter length win.

“She is very straightforward,” the winning rider remarked.

“She has been very consistent and hopefully now that she got her head in front, she can keep on improving, because she ran good and true to the line.”

THE first part of a 33/1 brace for Billy Lee, the Pat Flynn-trained Shaaden provided owner Glen Norris with a memorable success in the Bet On The Best Night Out At Dundalk Handicap.

A friendly and familiar face at racecourses throughout the country and the winner of this year’s Charity Race at the Punchestown Festival, Norris saw his colours carried to victory for the very first time.

Well-supported from 14s to 3s, the Invincible Spirit four-year-old made progress to lead over a furlong out, she kept on well when ridden to hold off the effort of Jackie Brown by half a length.

“We were confident, but Pat was probably more confident than me,” Norris revealed.

“It is great to finally have a winner in my own colours and especially to have it with Pat. I’m with Pat a long time and started riding out for him in 1994.”

Dundalk pro

Lee later completed his double on Barretstown (15/2) in the first division of the Now Racing Every Wednesday Night Handicap.

Registering a fourth career success, Conor O’Dwyer’s six-year-old raced in second before improving to lead with two furlongs to go.

The Hugo and Anne Kane-owned victor kept finding for pressure in the closing stages, just holding off the effort of Koniag by a nose.

“He’s so reliable and, if he runs badly, there is something wrong with him - it is as simple as that!” O’Dwyer remarked.

“Billy knows him so, so well and he is so good on him, while Hugo and Anne are the most enthusiastic owners I’ve known! They appreciate the winning days and appreciate how hard it is to get them.”

In the spotlight

Trained by Diego Dias, The World’s Astage (6/1) made the breakthrough in the second divide of this mile and a quarter contest.

Given a patient ride by Ronan Whelan, the chesnut four-year-old made headway approaching the straight and got the desired gap on the outer over a furlong from home.

Soon pushed along, she edged to the front inside the final 150 yards, keeping on strongly to score by a length and a half in the colours of owner Peter Jones.

“She loved coming through horses there and won snug enough,” Whelan disclosed. “She won like a filly that could maybe go on and it might do her confidence the world of good.”

THERE was a thrilling finish to the irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap, with Mags (6/1) just foiling a gamble on Nakasero. From 7/2 in early shows, the runner-up eventually went off the clear favourite at 6/5 and he attempted to make all.

Content to track the leader in second, the Shane Foley-ridden victor was pushed along to challenge early in the straight. She kept up her persistent effort and edged to the front in the final strides, with a short head the margin of victory.

“A mile was ideal and it will be a mile and a quarter next year,” Kieran Cotter, who trains the winner for the Knobel McGrath Partnership, reported.

“That’s her for the season now. She is a big, raw filly and we need to let her mature a bit more.”

Favourite backers rewarded

There was better fortune for favourite-backers in the Book Online dundalkstadium.com Nursery Handicap, with Tomarlo comfortably accounting for 13 rivals.

An eyecatcher when a never-nearer fourth almost a fortnight ago, the David Marnane-trained bay was sent off an 11/4 chance for this six-furlong heat, in the colours of MRC International.

Ridden by Luke McAteer, the £32,000 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale purchase got a nice run through on the far side early in the straight and made swift progress.

Getting to the front inside the final 200 yards, he readily increased his advantage and was a length and a quarter clear of Vanilla Baby at the line.

“He travelled well. Luke just gave him a very good, confident ride and he picked up well. He said that he felt he was going to pick up at all stages,” Marnane revealed.

“How strong a race it is, time will tell, but he has done it well. He’s a lovely, genuine horse.”