RORY Mulligan was delighted to ride his first racecourse winner on Daamberdiplomat for his new boss Johnny Murtagh last Friday.

The 13/2 shot was worked to the front inside the final furlong of the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap and came home best in a driving finish to land the spoils by a neck from Dontspoilasale for the Whyte Hickey Rafter Kilkenny Syndicate.

Mulligan said: “Unbelievable and I’m delighted! Johnny was very good to give it to me, I’m only there two and a half weeks now. I’m with Johnny full time now.

“I’m 17 and from Navan, and I’ll be 18 next month. I did the Leaving Certificate last year.”

Francis Meynell (9/4) showed an aptitude for Polytrack in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race over five furlongs.

Challenge

Colin Keane had him tracking Moral Turpitude and the pair delivered their challenge approaching the final furlong. The leader was passed inside the final 150 yards and Francis Meynell kept on well to close it out by half a length.

Owner/trainer Michael O’Callaghan said: “He was giving away a lot of weight and it was a good weight-carrying performance.

“He is a colt we have always thought a lot of. Obviously, he went to the Flying Childers (Group 2 in Doncaster) and he came home very sick and he got time off then.

“I thought he was a stakes horse during the year. If we still have him come next summer, it depends what mark he gets but he could be a horse for that three-year-old only handicap at Ascot.”

THE Gavin Cromwell-trained Clarita (9/4 joint-favourite) was the most experienced horse in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden and it stood to her as she made the best way home from over a furlong out.

After she swept home by a length and three-quarters for the Meegan, Townbraccan and Capall Partnership, jockey Robert Whearty said: “I was unlucky the last day when I was beaten a nose on her over six. I think the step up to seven helped her there today.

“She travels lovely through her race. I probably thought I got there a fraction too soon, but I hit the line there today.”

Swan Band was a beaten favourite in second on her last start in Dundalk, but made no mistake in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Maiden over a mile.

The 9/4 joint-favourite made good headway in the straight for Chris Hayes and grabbed the lead at the two pole. She kept up the gallop in the final furlong to come in by three and a-half lengths for Clipper Logistics Group Ltd.

Trainer Eddie Lynam said: “Good to get her to win and I like her but she’s a big, raw filly. I was a little bit disappointed the last day, but she is just coming to herself.”

Third winner

Calum Hogan’s claim was cut to 7lb after he partnered his third winner aboard Run The Jewels in division one of the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Handicap.

The 12/1 shot made his move inside the final quarter of a mile and picked up the lead approaching the final furlong. He kept on to score by a length and three-quarters for owner Daniel McLoughlin and trainer Michael McCullagh.

Hogan said: “I probably got there a little soon but he has found plenty. I was trying to just niggle away for as long as I could and, once I got there, he ran around with me a small bit but he has done it nicely.”

COMFORT Line doubled up on his victory in Dundalk the previous week when taking the honours by half-a-length in division two of the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Handicap.

The 15/8 favourite tracked the leaders throughout and improved from second on the run to the final furlong. His progression saw him lead with more than 100 yards to travel and he duly obliged for Dooley Thoroughbreds and Martin W White.

Ado McGuinness said: “He was down to a winnable mark. I know he just held on the last day, but he was far better there tonight. We had a nicer draw tonight. Adam (Caffrey) was very good on him and didn’t panic.”

Senado Square made it two from his last three in Dundalk when forging on well in the Gateway Hotel Dundalk Race & Stay Handicap over six furlongs.

The three-year-old gelding made all for Cian Horgan and had his rivals toiling a furlong out. He sailed in by two and three-quarter lengths at 10/3 for the Punchestown Friends Syndicate.

“That wasn’t the plan to make the running, but he jumped and he took it. He was probably very unlucky here the last night,” trainer Andy Slattery said.

Followed up

Yokkell has really found her stride in recent times and followed up on last week’s victory by taking the Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Stadium Handicap at 16/1.

Siobhan Rutledge is getting a good tune from the Fast Company filly and the pair made their winning move racing to the final furlong. They were strong at the finish as they came in by a length and three-quarters for owner Seamus Devlin.

Trainer John McConnell said: “We thought that (a mile and a half) was what she wanted to be honest.

“She can be a little bit keen, but Siobhan is very good at switching her off. We knew if she switched her off, she would get home no problem.

“I said to her beforehand that she would be like a little motorbike going through them!”