APACHE Outlaw and Ronan Whelan led home a 1-2-3 for Ado McGuinness in the Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Stadium Handicap at the penultimate Dundalk fixture of the year.

Apache Outlaw, the 13/8 favourite, raced in mid-division in this seven-furlong contest and made headway at the two pole. He loomed large a furlong out and soon grabbed the lead.

Stablemate Current Option kept him honest, but was a neck in arrears at the line, while Dontspoilasale completed the McGuinness Tricast.

McGuinness said: “I think he (Apache Outlaw) is a smart horse and he is going to go on a break now. We might want another run if we want to go to the All-Weather Finals, but we will look at that type of a target for him. It will be Newcastle - more money in Newcastle!”

Apache Outlaw struck for Dooley Thoroughbreds, Jim Fairhurst and Paul Riley.

Keane doubles up

Champion jockey Colin Keane booted home a double starting with Crystal Luna (10/3) in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap over five furlongs.

She was strongly pressed by Turn Up The Beat in the final furlong, but held on by a head for owners Arvin Savage, Mrs John Murphy and Mark Boyle.

Trainer Danny Murphy said: “I said to Colin Keane ‘just do us one favour, whatever happens, come this side (stands’ rail)’, last week he went up the far side. That’s why I left Colin on her, I didn’t even claim off her because he knows her.”

Keane’s double came in the next race, when Noel Meade’s Your Call justified 10/3 favouritism in the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Nursery Handicap over seven furlongs.

She was off the bridle in a close second a quarter of a mile from home but, to her credit, she dug deep for Keane and won a final-furlong battle with Powerful Lady by a neck for owners Mrs Caroline Hendron, Mrs M Cahill and Ciaran Kennelly.

Keane said: “Try and be positive (from stall 16) and we got there relatively easy enough. Myself and Rob (Whearty on Lyle The Crocodile) dictated and I thought anything that came to him would only bring him along, because he’s not a horse that will do a whole pile when he gets there.”

DAVID Marnane and Luke McAteer continued their good form when Amemri obliged by half a length in Division 1 of the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap.

The four-year-old filly led early and chased the leaders after a couple of furlongs. She came through to lead a furlong and a half from home and stayed on best to prevail by half a length at 7/2 for Ms Melanie Marnane.

McAteer said: “We went even enough and she picked up, she can pick up good. I was probably there a bit soon but, as I got there, I knew I had enough to get me to the line anyway.”

Going their own way

Fly To Glory and Nathan Crosse ploughed a lone furrow along the far-side rail in the straight to land Division 2 of the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap.

Their initiative was rewarded as they kept on best to see the race out by a length and a-quarter at 8/1, having been backed in from 14/1.

Trainer Pat Murphy said: “I actually told him (Crosse) to come up the near rail! He said he was lugging a bit to the far side, so he wasn’t going to start interfering with him. I was kind of wondering where he was going, but I was happy enough when he crossed the line!

“The Bajan Invasion Syndicate have stuck with him and we knew he had a bit of ability.”

Jamie Powell was given a two-day ban for frequency with the whip on sixth-placed Chestnutter.

Winning start

Joseph O’Brien’s No Nay Never colt Cee En Gee made a winning start to his career in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Race over a mile.

The 13/2 shot raced towards the rear and made his move racing to the final furlong. He was really motoring in the final furlong, as he picked up Bishopton close home to score by half a length for owner Philip Antonacci.

Jockey Declan McDonogh said: “It just got a bit congested the first 100 yards and he was two places further back than where I wanted to be. I always had plenty of horse.

“He gave me a lovely feel the last furlong and, when I gave him a crack, he got the message quickly and put the race to bed.”

ANDY Oliver’s Inthesmallhours improved from her first and second outings and further development saw her deliver on her third appearance in the Floodlit Fridays At Dundalk Stadium Maiden.

She travelled well into the lead entering the straight for Gary Carroll and asserted with a furlong and a half to negotiate. She didn’t relent in the final furlong and took the honours by two and three-quarter lengths at 5/2.

Owner/trainer Oliver said: “We thought maybe just inexperience beat her the last time (second in Dundalk), and we felt she had improved this time and I think she is going to improve again, because she took a good blow there.”

Forcing tactics worked for Eighty Eight (6/1) in the DundalkStadium.com Handicap over the extended mile and a quarter.

Patrick McGettigan was on board and soon sent him clear. The lead was increased from halfway and, although their advantage was reduced a furlong out, they held on by a short head from 3/1 favourite Beauparc for trainer Johnny Feane and owner D.A. Lynch.

McGettigan said: “The last day, Rory Mulligan rode him and he finished second on him. I was talking to him before and he said he would have loved to have made the running and it would have suited him more.”