Ralph Beckett's Muhannak stuck on gamely for Pat Smullen to land the Listed Diamond Stakes under the floodlights at Dundalk.
Settled in mid-division by Smullen, the 7-1 chance moved into contention on the turn for home before getting on the heels of the leaders over a furlong from home.
Both Mr Medici and Fiery Lad staked their claims for victory in the closing stages, but Muhannak was too strong, beating the former by a neck.< Paddy The Pro gave his followers little to worry about when finishing a convincing winner of the valuable Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery.
Always going well under Wayne Lordan, the 7-2 market leader was a little squeezed for room early in the straight, but picked up nicely once the gaps appeared.
Tommy Stack's charge showed a nice turn of foot to quicken clear, recording a three and a half-length verdict over Croisultan
Favourite-backers had already got off to a flying start when Aspectoflove (2-1) made light work of the Football Association Of Ireland Auction Maiden.
John Oxx's charge travelled kindly for Mick Kinane before taking up the running over a furlong out and running on well to beat Jays Secret by a length and a quarter.< Excelente showed plenty of tenacity to hold off Aadaat and land the Blue Sky Mortgages Fillies Maiden.
Taking up the running over a furlong out, Jessica Harrington's 5-1 chance had to pull out all the stops to score by half a length under Fran Berry.
First-time blinkers did the trick on Diamond Fire who stayed on well down the centre of the track to land the Shane McGuiness Construction Handicap.
Colm O'Donoghue hit the front inside the furlong pole on the 12-1 chance, and still held a neck advantage over Send Me Home at the line.
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