Johnny Murtagh punched the air with delight after steering Fiery Lad to victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF August Handicap at Dundalk, landing a treble for trainer Ger Lyons in the process.
The 11-4 favourite was kept on the rail in mid-division by Murtagh, and though he got into a little skirmish when mounting his challenge on the home straight, he hit the front with a furlong to run.< Charminamix and Varsity gave chase, but Fiery Lad ran on strongly in the closing stages to win by three-quarters of a length.
Uneasy favourite Dohasa overcame his wide birth to defeat Fourpenny Lane in the the BAR ONE Racing Handicap.
Lyons' 5-1 chance, whose stable companion Kinetic Quest had stayed on gamely to open her account in the previous Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden, arrived with a brilliantly-timed run under South African pilot Keagan Latham.
The opening Hanlon Machinery Race went the way of 16-1 chance Tornadodancer who clearly appreciated the return to 5f following a poor show over 7f at the Curragh last month.
The five-year-old hit the front around 2f from home and never looked like being headed, ultimately recording a half-length victory over Mick Halford's Invincible Ash
Second to Cuis Ghaire in a Group 3 at Naas last time out in June, Marquesa was entitled to make light work of the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund (Fillies) Maiden, but punters were made to sweat for their winnings.
David Wachman's 8-13 favourite looked a little outpaced when the race began to get serious, but Murtagh remained calm and the juvenile ground down leader Jessicas Girl and held off the battling Excellent Girl by three-quarters of a length.
Pat Shanahan drove home Roy's Delight (12-1) to win the first division of the Smirnoff Handicap, while the second division went to 6-1 chance Flying Knight for trainer Noel Lawlor.
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