Midnight Stagger avoids carnage to win Dundalk Nursery

In a race where it paid to be on the front end, the Jack Davison trained Midnight Stagger kept on strongly inside the final furlong to win the William Hill More Top Prices Nursery Handicap at Dundalk.

Sent off 4/1f, the Galileo Gold gelding was prominent throughout under Wesley Joyce, before being pushed up to press leader Katie Ross early in the straight.

As the leaders came stands side, there was trouble in behind as a number of those towards rear got tightened up for room.

Getting to the front inside the final furlong, Midnight Stagger did enough to repel the late challenge of Admirador by half-a-length.

Jack Davison said: "Yes (another step forward), he's just a bit late maturing really.

"I'd say we will go again up here.

"He's still having a good look there when he hit the front - he's never been up here, to be fair, and the lights is all new to a horse. Even running in evening time when we are losing light is all new.

"Hopefully, we can maybe follow up before the turn of the year."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham.