Gamble landed - Ben Curtis brings up a double on Khawatim© Photo Healy Racing
< Khawatim was in cracking form on the all-weather tracks in England last month and carried that over to Ireland with a convincing victory in the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap.
Trained in Newmarket by Noel Quinlan, the five-year-old was sent off the 4-6 favourite and looked to be travelling well just behind the leaders as they hit the two-furlong marker.< Almadaa took over, but Ben Curtis found a nice split just when he wanted it on the eventual winner, who eased into the lead and then bounded clear to score by three lengths.
The result completed a double for Curtis, who conjured a renewed effort from Tom McCourt's top-weight Bangalore Diamond (8-1) to grab Sophies Echo on the line in the Irish Stablestaff Association Awards 23rd February Handicap, winning by a short head.
It was a red-letter day for Ana O'Brien when she rode her first winner on her father Aidan's mare Fairylike (10-1) in the Irish Stablestaff Association Awards 23rd February Apprentice Handicap, catching Benbecula in the shadow of the post for a half-length strike. She was wearing the colours of her mother Anne-Marie.
Tommy Stack cornered the market with his two runners in the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Maiden and punters got it right when sending off Clancy Avenue the 5-4 favourite under Billy Lee.
The three-year-old, not disgraced in a rich Newmarket sales race last time, eased past stablemate Muizenberg Nights a furlong and a half out and was not pressed to hold Connacht Council by three and a quarter lengths.
Mick Halford's consistent top-weight Alvar (9-4 favourite) nailed Esytopolishadimond late on for a neck victory in the first division of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap under Shane Foley.
The jockey doubled up when Jessie Harrington's classy hurdler Steps To Freedom (evens favourite) stormed to an impressive victory in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Race, winning by four and a quarter lengths.
