There were a few negatives but with a rating of 89, Clancy Avenue was going to be difficult enough to beat all things being equal in the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Maiden. Market reference beforehand mightn't have helped much but the Henrythenavigator colt got the job done in style under Billy Lee.

Tight odds-on this morning, Clancy Avenue went off at 5/4 from his berth widest of all in fourteen.

That mattered little as the three-year-old was soon near the pace, he travelled like a dream and it was a matter of how far from the two furlong pole.

Stable companion, Muizenberg Nights was struggling from that point and she eventually had to settle for third as the gambled-on Connacht Council (16s into 7s on track) chased home Clancy Avenue at a distance of three and a quarter lengths.

Another 'springer' in the betting was Lake Storm and he eventually came home in fifth place under 10Ib claimer Dylan Robinson.

Lee rode Clancy Avenue for the Keoghan & McLiney Partnership and trainer Tommy Stack and the very talented pilot said: "He's a big horse and he was probably a bit weak last year. He's improved over the winter but we thought he'd need the run.

"He won well and there should be more to come from him. He'll get seven furlongs." (MG & EM)