Fourth, third and second on his previous rides on the evening, Fran Berry hit the target as Alfaayza struck for Pat Flynn in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap at Dundalk.

Carrying the familiar Mrs Dermot Cantillon silks, Alfaayza didn't go unbacked at 5/1 in a race where Mouskersize and Enigma Code were the 'buzz horses' this morning.

Ultimately many still held chances late in the day in the seven furlong event but at the line Alfaayza came out on top by a neck from Tsar Paul

"Pat said she had a bit of a pedigree and it was important to get a winning bracket.

"There's no reason why she can't win again. She was idling a bit in the last furlong.

"I rode seven winners in Japan in October and the plan is to go back for January and February if I get a licence," said Berry. (AM & EM)