The Michael Halford trained Settle For Red improved on three previous runner-up efforts to gain a maiden win in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap (div 1) at Dundalk this evening.

Ridden by Halford's stand in jockey Conor Hoban (replacing suspended stable jockey Shane Foley), the winner stayed on well in the closing stages for a half length win over Christy's Call.

Afterwards Halford stated “Settle For Red is very genuine and tries hard.

“It did look like he wanted further but he has sharpened up; we dropped him back in trip recently and he started to show more pace in his races.”

Halford also had news of two of his Meydan-bound runners, Banna Boirche and Dabadiyan who worked prior to racing. The trainer said “Banna Boirche led Dabadiyan and I was happy with both; we decided to come here instead of working at the Curragh where it is very wet. They travel to England on Monday and from there fly out on Wednesday and arrive at Dubai early Thursday morning. If all goes well, they'll be exercising in Meydan tomorrow week.”

Christy's Call's jockey Michael Hussey later received a one day suspension for using his whip above shoulder height.

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee