ASCENDING relished a step up in trip with a wide-margin victory in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap over two miles at Dundalk last Friday evening.

The five-year-old gelding raced in mid-division and came with a run to lead in the straight. He readily asserted over a furlong from home and strode nine lengths clear of his rivals to justify 2/5 favouritism for owner Chris Jones.

Jockey Billy Lee said: “Henry (de Bromhead) was just keen to try him over it (trip), just that it would open options for next year for those good handicaps.

“He’s a horse with a lovely cruising speed, he lobbed along all the way around. When we quickened turning in, I was always comfortable. I knew he would stay well. He’s a nice horse and, hopefully, the aim now will probably be nice pots.”

Front-runner

Touch The Sound (9/2) was resolute off the front in the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Fillies Maiden over a mile. Joey Sheridan raced her prominently and she took it up after a furlong and a half.

She was there to be shot at inside the final furlong, but kept finding to see off Whisper A Prayer by a length for owner John Patrick Byrne.

Sheridan said: “She had a good run on her second run in Leopardstown and, just for whatever reason after that, we were a little bit disappointed with her last two runs.

“Her run up here the last day, we walked around that night. The first thing I said to Fozzy (Stack) was that I would make plenty of use of her the next day and that I thought she would win. She lengthened the whole way to the line and took a bit of pulling up.”

Third time lucky

Aviatrice built upon a pair of runner-up berths to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over six furlongs.

The MRC International representative was never far from the pace and Luke McAteer produced her to lead approaching the final furlong.

She was strong at the finish, as she clocked a victory by a length and three-quarters at 3/1.

David Marnane said: “She’s a lovely filly. She was a bit green and raw, but she bumped into two very nice colts.

“We’ll put her away now and she has qualified for the All-Weather Finals in Newcastle (on Good Friday) - the three-year-old final over six furlongs.

“We’ll give her a break now and bring her back for that. We will consider it anyway.”

NICOLA Burns steered Sporting Hero to a half-length success in the Now Racing Every Wednesday At Dundalk Handicap.

The 9/2 shot made headway in the final quarter of a mile and took over from Never Shout Never inside the final furlong. He kept on best to fend him off in the closing stages of this six-furlong race for trainer Denis Hogan and the Winning Chance Syndicate.

Burns said: “He was well-able to kick on when he needed to - he was travelling all the way with me, so I was always happy where I was. He is (going the right way) and, hopefully, they can get a few more out of him.”

A drop down to a mark of 51, with Jack Cleary claiming 4lb, worked a treat for Sam’s Xpress (11/2) in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Handicap over five furlongs.

On song

The four-year-old gelding chased the leaders and motored into contention a furlong and a half down. He led at the furlong marker and stuck to his task to strike by a length and a half for trainer Kieran Cotter and owner Gerrit O’Reilly.

Cleary said: “He was on song and the lads had him in great form. They were confident enough, they said he had been going well at home. I was confident enough of a big run as well.”

Numidia got back to winning ways, with the assistance of Rory Mulligan, in division one of the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap.

The Estidhkaar gelding was sighted in second halfway, before Mulligan pushed him along to lead two furlongs out.

He was in no mood to relent, as he closed the race out by two and a half lengths at 5/1.

Owner/trainer Peter Lawlor said: “The last day we took the visor off him and he didn’t put it in for us. We put the visor back on and got him back running from the front - he doesn’t like to be bossed.

“He is capable (in that grade), it is when he steps out (of it) it can be a different ball game. He is getting close enough to that now.”

TRISHULI River (3/1 favourite) is definitely enjoying the extended 10-furlong trip at Dundalk, as she followed up last month’s win in Division 2 of the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap.

She travelled smoothly for Wayne Hassett and the pair took over racing into the final furlong. From there, she swept to victory by two and a half lengths for the Hon The River Syndicate.

“She’s seeing that trip out well. I still maintain, in that company, we could drop back to a mile because she shows a bit of poke. In time, probably further going by the stallion (Poet’s Word),” said trainer, Shane Crawley.

William F Browne was a straightforward winner of the Book Online At Dundalkstadium.com Claiming Race for Ger Lyons and Gary Carroll.

The 7/4 favourite tracked the pace and powered away from his rivals approaching the final furlong to score by two and a quarter lengths for owners, Mrs Lynne Lyons and Sean Jones.

Assistant trainer, Shane Lyons said: “He’ll get further, he’s definitely a mile and a quarter horse. We’ll have a lot of fun with him - a nice, genuine horse and something to look forward to.”

No horses were claimed after this contest.