Splashtop was best for money through the day for the opening www.dundalkstadium.com Claiming Race and Rick Barnes and Patrick Prendergast's representative just held the one they came for in the ring at the track, I Will Excel (7/2 into 11/4).

Daniel Redmond rode Splashtop, the 13/8 favourite, and the twenty-year-old was registering his sixteenth winner with this short head victory.

Splashtop and the rest had it put to them by the strong pace-setting outsider Hard Times

However Splashtop got to him a furlong and a half out before going on for the win.

There were no claims for any of the runners in the aftermath.

(AM & EM)