Murtagh shines on Baracas

Baracas benefitted from a power-packed Johnny Murtagh drive to take the 1m2f maiden at Dundalk.

The Eoin Griffin-trained gelding chased down leader Kalimanka inside the final furlong to record a half-length win.

"I'm happy to get that. He wasn't settling in his races over hurdles and even the night he won his bumper here he didn't settle," said Griffin.

"I think over the 1m2f the faster pace suited him. He's still a bit of a baby and immature in his ways.

"We'll put him away now and bring him back next year for a summer dual purpose campaign. We'll keep him a novice over hurdles.

"He needs genuinely good ground and we have no chance of getting it. I think this country is sinking!

"He loves this surface here and could be paying a few visits next year."