Gardone opens his account under Hayes in Dundalk finale

It was an all Limerick success in the concluding race at Dundalk, as Chris Hayes teamed up with trainer Eric McNamara to win the Bar One Racing Your No1 Bookmaker Handicap with Gardone

Out of luck earlier in the afternoon, including when finding one too good on a 2/7f, Hayes went home with a winner when the four-year-old stayed on best to land odds of 17/2.

Held up towards rear early on as Kartayaz took the field along, Hayes moved closer on the inside early in the straight as his mount reached top gear.

Ridden to head Kartayaz over a furlong out, Gardone stayed on well to register a first career win by two lengths from the staying on Epaulawn

Joint owner Colman Smith: "He kind of disappointed us so many times.

"We wanted to race as close to the north so we decided on Dundalk to try and get Robbie (F White, joint owner) and I out for a day - Robbie hasn't seen him run.

"We decided to go to Dundalk and have a day's craic and a few mates are up. We are from Ballyholland, just outside Newry.

"We chat a lot to Conor (McNamara) and he really liked Gardone and was puzzled many a time. He said he was making a fool of him, but thank God for today."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham.