Elishpour (yellow) stays on best under Billy Lee to beat Financial Conduct and Shane Foley© Photo Healy Racing
After winning the opener on Verhoyen Billy Lee doubled-up on Elishpour in the www.dundalkstadium Handicap.
Successful here in November and December, the Alan Fleming trained eight-year-old went down by just a short head to She's A Star on his most recent effort in January.
Sent off a 5/2 chance today, the eight-year-old victor made all. He was pressed and joined by Financial Conduct from the two furlong pole, but kept on best under pressure inside the final furlong, going on to score by a head.
The aforementioned Financial Conduct was sent off the 7/4 favourite, and he had to settle for second under Shane Foley for Andy Oliver.
Winning owner Barry Connell said afterwards: "He loves it around here. He's run five times and won three and been second on the other two. He doesn't like jumping and I don't think we'll go back jumping with him again.
"If we get into the All-Weather Championships at Lingfield on Good Friday then that's where he'll go. He was 89 today and may need to go up to the mid 90's to get into it.
"What he wants is a very strongly run race to come off the pace, and we had to make our own running there today. He's a grand old servant, and it's worth a shot at Lingfield as it's a 100 grand race.
"He loves this surface, and there is also the big handicap (Northumberland Plate) at Newcastle to consider in the summer."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Nimitz trained by Charles O'Brien, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
