With first-time cheek-pieces on Happy Lad landed the concluding Molson Coors INH Flat Race at Downpatrick under Derek O’Connor.

Supplying winning owner/trainer Hugh Finegan with a first victory since three time scorer Never A Secret got the job done at Kilbeggan in June of 2013, Happy Lad was sent off a 5/1 chance for this bumper.

Backed in from 7/1, the Heliostatic chestnut never gave his supporters much cause for concern, making all for a pretty convincing two and a half length win over Miss Aloud

"He was unlucky in his point-to-points. He was third to Global Citizen first-time out, a real good horse. Then he fell and unseated and made a mistake and sort of lost his confidence a bit," said Finegan.

"He's not scopey enough for jumping fences but he'll make a little hurdle horse. He has come on enough from last year, he was weak enough last year.

"I left it to Derek (O'Connor) and he said he's a nice horse and will win plenty. Hopefully he will do well over hurdles. He likes the good ground."

(MG & EM)