Mountain Coral ended a barren spell going back to the summer of 2009 (he won six out of seven then – including three over course & distance & the Scurry Handicap on Derby Day) when landing the opening Christmas Parties At Dundalk Handicap under Colin Keane.

The victorious seven-year-old got a lovely split down the inside and whilst Farmleigh House was in the clear and looking good for much of the straight, Mountain Coral was three parts of a length to the good at the line.

Frank Oakes owns and trains the Jammaal gelding and he said: "I thought he wouldn't be beaten but I couldn't say it to anyone as he has let us down so often before.

"He has been dropping in the handicap and that helped. He'll come back here now next Friday night."

Oakes' optimism for Mountain Coral's chance tonight was reflected to an extent in the betting ring where he found an S.P. of 6/1 from an opening show of 8s.

Of course many will remember Oakes' daughter Irene plying her trade successfully in the training ranks here and she is now married to French trainer Francois Cottin.

He had no less than five winners at Cagnes Sur Mer today.(GC & EM)