BARRY Fitzgerald outlined a Royal Ascot plan for A Piece Of Heaven after the even-money favourite landed the Bar One Racing ‘Price Boosts Across All Channels’ Handicap in good style.

This Jukebox Jury gelding, who was fourth in a Grade 1 bumper at Punchestown in April, made all for Luke McAteer over this two-mile trip and kept on strongly to win by a very handy three and a-quarter lengths for owners Miss A V Brann and M Foley.

Fitzgerald said: “He’s a good horse and the plan now is to give him a break and bring him back at the start of the flat next year, and hopefully progress to Royal Ascot. He won good enough there to pick any of those handicaps in Royal Ascot.

“There’s a lot of lads telling me to go jumping now, but I think he is still progressing on the flat so why not use that and wait until he is older to go jumping?”

Off the mark

A switch to Polytrack saw Jessica Harrington’s Pomeriggio (5/1) get off the mark in the Gateway Hotel Dundalk Race & Stay Claiming Race over seven furlongs.

The Caravaggio filly forged on well in the final furlong to sweep home by three and a quarter lengths under Nathan Crosse.

Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said: “She has really relished the surface. We have done a lot of stall work with her and she broke well out of the gates, and she did it very, very nicely.

“The syndicate (It’s All About The Girls) has been with us a good while - they had Youcrackmeup this year. They are actually all at their Christmas lunch and this will help the wine go down!”

Runner-up Cool Dan was claimed and went to Leanne Breen while third-placed More Profit was the subject of a friendly claim by Gavin Cromwell.

Anvika rewarded support from 8/1 to 9/2 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over six furlongs.

Photograph

Robbie Colgan worked her to the front a furlong out, but the duo were joined close home by a staying-on Clarita and Robert Whearty.

The judge then awarded the photograph to Anvika by the minimum margin of a nose for the Spyglass Syndicate.

Trainer Sheila Lavery said: “Thrilled with her and how she has taken to the surface. She has just got stronger and better.

“I think she is more a seven-furlong filly and, when she learns to relax in her race, we will step her up to seven. I’ll let her mature into her brain and then run her on nice grass.”

JIM Bolger’s Finsceal Go Deo (8/1) got her head in front at the 17th time of asking in the Bar One Racing ‘Bet €10 Get €50 Sign Up Offer’ Fillies Maiden over a mile.

Rory Cleary got her away well and she made all before powering home by four lengths.

Travelling head lad Ger Flynn said: “It all goes down to the perseverance of the owner Michael Ryan and the trainer. To be fair to Michael, he could easily have stopped at any stage during the summer and put her into the breeding shed without winning her maiden.

“Rory jumped out, he got a lead and did the fractions lovely at 33-35mph all the way. Quickened up into the straight and put the race to bed, they never got to her.

“We’ll keep her going for the winter, she loves the surface here.”

Seven-up

Inishmot Prince (7/1) brought up his seventh Dundalk success in the Now Racing Every Wednesday At Dundalk Handicap.

The five-year-old gelding stayed on under James Ryan to challenge a furlong down. He disputed the lead with Distillate in the final 100 yards and edged ahead close home to strike by three-quarters of a length for owner Oliver Curtis.

Trainer Tom McCourt said: “He has been coming into great form at home, he was very well the last week. The strong pace was ideal for him, he just loves coming off a strong pace.”

SENADO Square was another horse to justify support (15/2 - 4/1) in the five- furlong Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Handicap.

He closed for Cian Horgan at the two pole and looked threatening at the furlong marker. The Mayson gelding kept on well to get up close home by a neck for the Punchestown Friends Syndicate.

“I think he has a wind problem and I think I am going to have to get it solved as he works like a 90 (rated) horse,” trainer Andy Slattery commented.

Slattery’s My Girl Sioux, who suffered a less than clear route, finished fourth under Amy Jo Hayes who incurred an eight-day ban for careless riding.

Hasten Slowly finished well down the stands’ side for Cillian McConnell as the pair swooped by a short-head in Division 1 of the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap over the extended 10-furlongs.

Owner/trainer John McConnell said: “She was good, she was gutsy. I thought Cillian didn’t panic, it was getting very tight down the stands’ side He didn’t unbalance her. Looking at that, she’d nearly stay a mile and four furlongs - she’s a very relaxed filly.” Rhythm And Tyne supplemented recent Dundalk gains in Division 2. Charles Byrnes’ gelding was held up by Adam Caffrey before a sustained finish saw them lead close home for owner Ms Anna Rowney.