Sacred Dragon may have been 'done' for the want of experience when a gambled-on second on his debut here 28 days ago, but the know-how picked up there might have helped him to fend off a newcomer tonight in the Floodlit Friday Night At Dundalk Maiden.

That first-timer was Mick Halford's Aga Khan-runner, Mazandaran He attracted support this morning at 10s and he was returned at 7/1. Under Shane Foley he strongly pressed 2/5 chance, Sacred Dragon to the line, going down by a neck.

Kevin Manning had gotten the successful Bernstein American-bred to the front under a furlong out and he looked like he'd always just contain the promising newcomer, Mazandaran.

Jim Ryan trains Sacred Dragon for Tan Kai Chah and he said: "He's still a bit green and he was looking at the lights in front. He's still a baby.

"We'll give him a break now and bring him back later in the spring." (AM & EM)