Companion comes to fore in blinkers

"The blinkers and dropping him down to a handicap seemed to help a lot," said Adrian Joyce, after his charge, True Companion under Gary Halpin, popped up at odds of 20/1 in the opening Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Nursery Handicap (Plus 10 Race).

Never far away the Fast Company colt led inside the final furlong before accounting for You Gotta Move (33/1) by a length and three parts.

"I worked him here two weeks ago and didn't think he'd handle the surface after that. The plan was to give him a run before putting him out," added Joyce.

"He should improve next year. He's a big horse and is a massive frame. He'll be gelded now.

"The owner (Albert Conneally) bred him and it's important to get a two-year-old winner for the pedigree. He's a good owner and has plenty of nice young horses."

(GC & EM)