Egan gets Salam home

Salam Alaykum was hammered in the market this morning for the closing Group Discounts At Dundalk Maiden and that early support was justified as the Galileo colt prevailed under John Egan.

On track Salam Alaykum was easier to back as it was apparent that Aragorn Rouge and Kavanagh were also well-fancied.

As the action unfolded up the straight it was Salam Alaykum and Aragorn Rouge that slugged it out with the former getting the better of a good duel by a length. There was three lengths back to the aforementioned Kavanagh with the eye-catching newcomer Mind The Pennies fourth.

Successful owner Khaled A Rahim is a very wealthy Bahrain native. He has bought a stud farm in County Kildare and Salam Alaykum's rider John Egan has connections there.

Winning trainer Michael Halford said: "He battled well and staying won the day.

"He is making steady progress and we'll see what the handicapper does.

"He ran to his mark with Aragorn Rouge and he'll probably come back here for a handicap before the year is out.

"He is a late maturing horse." (GC & EM)