Akhlaaq today earned prizemoney equalling 90% of his October valuation, as the Tony Martin trained gelding landed Dundalk's Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap under jockey Robbie Colgan.

The son of New Approach was unwanted at €7,000 after finishing second in a same-course Claimer on October 15 but today collected first-prize of €6,300, when travelling well and beating runner-up Harbanaker by a length.

Trainer Martin later said “he was entitled to do that off his run in the claimer. He's in great form and it's great for the boy that owns him, Dave Field, who is a real good fella.

“He stuck with him, he hasn't been the easiest horse and things didn't really go right for him. He never got a clear run at it but touch wood it's gone well the last day and today.

“Fingers crossed it will keep going that way. He did it well there and the last day was grand whereas before you could never get two good runs into him.

“Things never went his way but hopefully now we might be on a bit of a roll with him.”

Quotes from Gary Carson