AFTER registering a double at the all-weather venue the previous Friday, Perfect Pacemaker provided Danny Murphy with further success, as he came home a length and a quarter to the good in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The Arizona debutant was returned at 14/1 in the colours of Rose Day and Karl Kirwan.

Towards rear under Billy Lee, the bay victor made progress from the two-furlong pole and while soon briefly short of room, he worked his way to the front inside the final 100 yards, keeping on well despite edging left.

“I said to Billy, for one of mine, he’ll walk out of the boxes but in the last furlong he might just find his legs,” Murphy explained.

“He was working well but he’s a big raw horse and I’d say he’ll be on the market.”

Breakthrough

Dermot Weld’s Daboya made the breakthrough in the 14-runner Book Online At dundalkstadium.com Maiden.

Dropped back to a mile for the first time, the Aga Khan homebred took closer order when ridden early in the straight and improved into a share of the lead from the furlong pole.

Soon gaining a narrow advantage under Chris Hayes, the 10/1 chance (from 11/2) was all out at the line to hold off the rallying Polaris Dancer by a nose.

“That was important, she has a nice pedigree and this was her last throw of the dice for us,” Hayes said of the Gleneagles winner, who is entered in the November Breeding Stock Sale at Goffs later this month.

34th time lucky

My Girl Sioux (7/1) also got an all-important win to her name, making the breakthrough on her 34th start in the View Restaurant At Dundalk Handicap.

Coming from off the pace under Cian Horgan, the Andy Slattery-trained four-year-old made progress on the inner early in the straight and got to the front just inside the final furlong despite edging right.

Once straightened up, the Maurice Aherne-owned bay increased her advantage and had a length and a half to spare at the line.

“I’m delighted for her owners as they are after persevering with her and she’s owed them that,” Brian Slattery, brother of the winning handler, remarked.

REGISTERING a second course and distance success, Daamberdiplomat justified 16/5 favouritism in the feature Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Handicap.

A respectable eighth in the Sovereign Path on Champions Weekend, the Whyte Hickey Rafter Kilkenny Syndicate-owned chesnut came from off the pace under Ben Coen.

Making headway early in the straight, the four-year-old was pushed along to challenge from the furlong pole and edged to the front inside the final 150 yards, keeping on well from there to beat Harry’s Bar by a length and a half.

“I suppose it was the perfect race and distance, so everything was teed up for today,” winning trainer Johnny Murtagh commented.

“We know now that seven furlongs is just a little bit too far, six looks ideal.”

Backed as if defeat was out of the question, Slieve Binnian provided favourite backers with further cheer in the concluding Story Of Dundalk Stadium Book Buy Online Handicap.

Now four from five at the venue, the Mick Halford and Tracey Collins-trained grey was sent off a 4/5 chance in this mile and a half contest, in the colours of Paul Rooney.

Settled in second by Ronan Whelan, the 85-rated victor improved to lead with less than two furlongs to go and stretched clear when ridden, with two and a half lengths the margin of victory.

“He has got a bit stronger and certainly has a preference for that surface or fast ground,” Halford disclosed.

JACK Kearney completed a quickfire double by claiming both divisions of the irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap, a contest confined to riders with no more than 10 winners this season. The Co Meath apprentice guided Comfort Line to victory in the first split, with this Ado McGuinness-trained seven-year-old returned a 9/2 chance (drifted from 7/2).

Pushed along to lead from the furlong pole, the 65-rated victor soon increased his advantage and eased to a two-and-a-half-length success in the colours of Dooley Thoroughbreds.

“I’m delighted with that but it was a bit of a cock-up between myself and Adam (Caffrey) as we put this fella away for tonight and then we realised he couldn’t ride in the race,” McGuinness revealed.

“Fair play to Jack, he gave him a lovely ride.”

Completing the brace

Kearney completed his near 17/1 brace on Claire Gleeson’s Moyassr, with this one also defying top-weight off a mark of 65.

Second at the venue over seven furlongs on Wednesday, the John and Thomas Kiely-trained three-year-old was well-fancied to go a place better in this mile heat and returned the 9/4 favourite.

Taking closer order early in the straight, he was ridden in second over a furlong from home and got to the front inside the final 150 yards, going on to score by a length and three-quarters.

“He’s a fun horse and I think he could win plenty of races up here throughout the winter,” John Gleeson, son of the winning owner reflected.

Turned out again quickly after finishing seventh of 18 at Galway on Monday, Proleek Prince was another to overcome a fast turnaround. Trained and bred by local handler Michael Rice, the 9/1 chance got to the front after quarter of a mile and didn’t see another rival under Rory Mulligan, eventually coming home a length and a half to the good.

“It was a lovely performance, he’s as tough as nails,” Rice said of the Slieve Foye Syndicate-owned bay. “The only worry was that it might be a bit much for him after Galway, but he hasn’t missed a feed all week.”