SEAMIE Heffernan booted home a double at Dundalk last Wednesday and went one better on this card for three different trainers. Milliethemollie got the ball rolling at 12/1 in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Nursery Handicap over six furlongs. She soon overcame a tardy start to lead and made the rest. Heffernan asserted approaching the final furlong and the pair sailed in by a length and a half for owner Antonio Da Silva and trainer Jennifer Anne Lynch.

Heffernan said: “The lads said that she has been weak. They wanted her to win as a two-year-old and now it is mission complete. She probably runs a bit keen in her races. She is catching up as she was strong today. She was a good winner at the line, the strength is coming into her.”

Heffernan then made all on 6/5 favourite Billboa in the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Maiden over six furlongs. This three-year-old gelding improved upon a runner-up berth over five furlongs at this track in November. After he kept on to pass the post with a length and a quarter in hand, trainer Willie Browne said: “He seems to enjoy that surface – he shouldn’t, but he does. He’s not the soundest horse in the mornings, but it is great he did that.”

The winner sported the colours of the trainer’s partner, Tracey Kearney.

Motored home

The treble was sealed aboard Jack Davison’s McVay (9/4) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over seven furlongs. This US Navy Flag colt travelled well to lead a furlong and a half down and motored home by a length and a half for the JPD Partnership. Davison said: “I am delighted with that. He is a horse that I just had to be patient with because he hasn’t missed a beat, but I just felt he would benefit from a little bit of time.

“I always suspected he is going to be a better three-year-old – plenty of size and scope and has pedigree. He is really only getting it together now, so he is exciting.”

Keane’s cool Banana

GER Lyons’ Banana Three (5/2 favourite) picked up his first victory in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Claiming Race over a mile and a half. Colin Keane raced him in second and made headway to lead approaching the final quarter of a mile. From there, they stayed on best to beat Autocrat by a length for owner Sean Jones. Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “Most of all it is great for Sean and his two kids James and Edward - Edward is down for breeding him and Sean is our biggest supporter. He’s a very consistent horse. It is our 50th winner of the year, so we are happy with that.”

The winner was claimed by Amanda Torrens to be trained by Ross O’Sullivan.

Breakthrough

James Henry, who had been runner-up on his last three starts on the Polytrack, made the breakthrough in division one of the Gateway Hotel Dundalk Race & Stay Handicap. The 6/4 favourite was driven home by Scott McCullagh and the pair held on by a head from Morning Approach who pressed them close home. After James Henry got the verdict in the photograph for the Varland Syndicate, trainer Leanne Breen said: “Scott was good and strong on him, and there was very little lead on his (James Henry’s) back. Hopefully there is another one in him.”

Bride Tree may have gone off 22/1 for division two, however, she was backed in from 80/1 and the support proved inspired. Jack Cleary’s mount travelled all over her rivals and grabbed the lead a furlong and a half from home. Thereafter, she was in little danger as she strode in by a length and three quarters. “She had been running well in the summer, couple of nice placings and then went very flat. I think we had a bit of a bug in the yard,” said trainer Sarah Dawson. “We just put her on the easy list, freshened her up and brought her back. She has been in serious form at home, so she has really done today what I thought she could do. I am delighted for the owner, Kieran Burke, who has been very patient and I was trying to get a win for him.”

Picpoul bounced back to form in division one of the Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Stadium Handicap over the extended 10-furlongs. She was backed in from 12/1 to 7/1 and made eye-catching progress to dispute the lead with Breagagh, a furlong and a half out. She went on at the furlong pole and stormed three-and-a-quarter lengths clear at the line in the colours of Mrs S.M. Rice. Trainer Michael Rice said: “She ran in January 2022 and after that I think she overextended her knee and she just wasn’t firing.

“We gave her a bit of a break and took her back and she still wasn’t right. Then six months ago, we got her back looked at and we had to lay her off and gave her a few exercises. It was a long trail, but we are back now.”

Old Peculier justified favouritism in division two with a strong-staying performance. Shane Foley brought him down the stands’ side and the duo made sustained headway to lead a furlong down. They then swept home by a length and three quarters at 7/4 for the Haven’taclue Syndicate. Trainer Mark Fahey said: “The blinkers helped him. He has loads of ability and he has been running well. We are hoping he might go on and win another one. The next day when he turns out, he might not produce that again. He has his own mind and we hit him on the right day today.”