Five Claw gallops on well under Conor Hoban© Photo Healy Racing
Conor Hoban recorded his first victory since losing his claim when he partnered Five Claw to a commanding success in the Elusive Pimpernel Maiden at Dundalk.
Mick Halford's son of Jeremy had just the one run as a juvenile, showing plenty of early pace before fading to finish well behind in a Curragh maiden won by Royal Navy Ship, and he was sent off an 11-4 chance for his seasonal bow.
Hoban soon had him in front and he was well clear coming down the straight, with the odds-on Song Of Love unable to get to grips as he finished two lengths in arrears.
Aidan O'Brien was out of luck with Song Of Love, but it was a different matter in the Dundalk Stadium Light Up Your Night Handicap when top-weight Bishan Bedi made a mockery of his rating on his first start for the Ballydoyle team.
Donnacha O'Brien raced in last place for much of the way, but the ex-English 9-2 chance produced an eyecatching run in the straight and sliced through the field in some style to win going away by five and a half lengths.
The jockey doubled up when Andrew Slattery's 11-4 shot Sharjah made it four wins from his last five starts in the Fundraising Made Easy At Dundalk Stadium Handicap, taking over at the top of the straight and running on strongly to score.< Togoville (11-8 favourite) is proving a great servant for Georgios Pakidis and won for the third time in his last four outings when Gary Carroll extricated him from a pocket before he raced two and a quarter lengths clear in the Happy Birthday Anne Hughes Handicap.
Oisin Orr rode his first winner when the Eddie Lynam-trained Balmont Blast (4-1) took the Like Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Apprentice Maiden, getting the better of front-running favourite Saga Diamond and finishing three-quarters of a length ahead.
Adrian Joyce's mare Majestic Timeline (5-1) ended a run of three seconds when she led all the way under Chris Hayes to take the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap, holding a clear advantage at the top of the straight and beating Sylvan Mist by a length and a half.
