Whearty completes Dundalk double on Meade's Luke Short

Jockey Robert Whearty completed a double on the night when guiding the Noel Meade trained Luke Short to an easy win in the concluding Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Book Now Handicap at the County Louth track.

Third over course and distance on his all weather debut last month, the six-year-old appeared to face a stiff task drown out widest in stall 17.

However, once his rider managed to negotiate that obstacle and hold a prominent early berth in the first half dozen, the remainder of the task was much more straightforward.

Sitting fourth entering the straight, Luke Short moved up easily to head leader Dark Note before quickly stretching clear of his rivals. Race favourite emerged from the pack to bridge the gap slightly but was three-and-a-quarter-lengths down at the line.

Robert Whearty said: “I rode him the last day when he finished third and I just thought that I wasn’t positive enough on him and was a bit further back than I wanted to be.

“Today I was determined to go forward and thought he’d get the trip well. It definitely brought out improvement in him and hopefully he’ll be a fun horse here for the winter.

“We got racing plenty early but it just takes him that while to get rolling but he’s done it well.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.