Ancient Sands followed up a hurdle win at Ballinrobe last month by justifying solid support in the concluding mile and a half handicap at Dundalk.

The 11/4 favourite (available at 4/1 this morning) travelled sweetly under Pat Smullen to lead early in the straight, and was driven right out inside the final furlong by the former champion.

The Footstepsinthesand gelding, successful on his only previous outing on the Polytrack two years ago, kept on well under pressure to beat Tooreen Legend (16/1) by three quarters of a length.

The well-backed Polished Rock (5/1) was just a short-head further back in third.

Winning trainer Joanna Morgan said “He’s a big strong horse. He has plenty of pace, which you need around here, and won over seven as a two-year-old. He loves that surface as he wants real quick ground. Pat said we should run him a few more times here over the winter.

“He’s in Monday and Tuesday at Limerick and the Curragh, and will probably run at one of them before the ground changes.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson