DECLAN McDonogh dominated proceedings with a 534/1 treble on the penultimate Irish card before Christmas, highlighted by the feature race win of Apache Outlaw, who confirmed the promise of a couple of placed runs here last month when taking the Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

The son of Churchill, Group 2-placed as a juvenile for Joseph O’Brien before joining Ado McGuinness this summer, quickened up nicely on the stands’ side rail to lead over a furlong out and was driven out by McDonogh to hold off Pier Pressure by a head.

“It is great for the Dooleys and Jim Fairhurst. We stepped him up today and I think seven is better for him than six. We’ll have a lot of fun with him next year and he will be a nice premier handicap horse on turf,” said McGuinness of the 6/1 winner.

Nova notches another

McDonogh added to his tally on the evergreen Sunset Nova, who was gaining a 10th win on his 98th career start in division one of the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap.

The former champion again made a beeline for the stands’ side rail early in the straight, and the seven-year-old gelding just proved stronger than Circles in the closing stages to score by a head.

“Funny enough for a horse around here, he likes to be drawn wide. Being drawn one here the last day didn’t suit him - the wider, the better!” said Andy Slattery who trains the 8/1 chance for the Men Of Forty Eight Syndicate.

“Declan was very strong on him. He rode a lot of winners for me early on when I was starting off and we had a great combination. He said to me there, ‘it’s a pity you had a son!’”

Dynasty delivers

McDonogh completed his treble on Big Dynasty, who justified support (16/1 in the morning, sent off 15/2) in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Race. The son of Almanzor also challenged on the outer in the straight, leading in the final 100 yards to beat Barnso by a length.

Winning trainer Joseph O’Brien was represented by his assistant Sean Corby, who said: “He picked up well and is a lovely big horse. It’s his first run, so obviously he is going to come on from the experience and he could be a horse to look forward to.”

DIVISION two of the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap went to another veteran as Tynamite (9/1) recorded a sixth win at the track, finishing strongly under Luke McAteer to touch off the well-backed Irish Rumour by a head.

“We had been talking about retiring him for a while, but he keeps running well and is a good work horse at home. A couple of good supporters [the Tynamite Syndicate] have been in him a long time,” said trainer David Marnane of the nine-year-old.

“Luke is a very good rider and is in the mould of Oisin Orr.”

O’Sullivan strikes

Samrogue was another Dundalk regular to oblige, recording a sixth career win and fourth over course and distance when finishing with a flourish to land the five-furlong Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

Oisin McSweeney had to wait for a gap over a furlong out before the 3/1 shot quickened up well to deny Below Deck by a head.

Conor Hoban retired on a winner when successful on the same mare here last month and Ross O’Sullivan, who trains her for Yvonne Lavin, said: “No one else really had ridden her other than Conor. He rode her work on Saturday morning and was delighted with her and he also spoke to Oisin who is great value for 5lb.”

Garden in bloom

There was another thrilling finish to the Gateway Hotel Dundalk Race & Stay Nursery where Enchanted Garden, trained by Tony Mullins for Olive Walsh, defied a market drift (7/1 to 18/1) when just touching off The Bear Trap by a nose in the hands of Rory Cleary.

The winning rider commented: “I think she should improve again. She’s a big filly - whatever she is doing now, she will be a lovely three-year-old.”

JAMES Ryan partnered his 30th winner of 2023 when Morning Logic sprung a 25/1 surprise in the Story Of Dundalk Stadium Book Buy Online Maiden.

The Dream Ahead gelding has been mainly campaigned over hurdles but successfully switched to the flat in this mile and a half event, drifting left inside the final furlong but still keeping on well to beat Gran Caballo by two and a quarter lengths.

“James is a good family friend of ours and I have been dying to get him a winner,” said Thomas Coyle, who trains the six-year-old gelding for Michael Daly.

“My horses were coughing and that’s the first horse we have run in about six weeks. I always knew he had ability, but his mind has been so backward.

“We will race here in the new year, and he is going to go chasing in the summer. He’s actually a good jumper and doesn’t have enough respect for hurdles.”

Painter’s masterpiece

Garrick Painter benefitted from a fine front-running ride by Killian Leonard to take the DundalkStadium.com Handicap.

The 15/2 chance, available at 16/1 earlier in the day, was claimed for €20,000 by northern trainer Noel Kelly here in October and has given the All Play & No Work Syndicate a quick return.

Leonard was allowed to dictate matters off a steady pace despite being drawn wide in stall 17 and wound up the pace entering the straight. The Zoffany gelding edged left inside the final furlong but still kept on well to beat Obama Army by a length and three quarters.

“It was a canny ride! Jump out and do what you can, I said. We bought him to go hurdling and I thought we would take six grand prize money around Dundalk first,” said Kelly.