"They went a nice even gallop, and he picked up well. He made hard work of it the last night but did that well and it's a nice pot to get," was Michael Halford's reaction as his Chestnut Fire landed the biggest prize on offer on Dundalk's Wednesday night card, the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap.

Halford and his stable jockey Shane Foley had placed horses earlier on the card with Heat Of The Day (2nd in the opener) and Liberatio (3rd in race 2), but there was to be no denying the Paul Rooney-owned Chestnut Fire.

The victorious Showcasing gelding was winning a third race at Dundalk, to follow-up his win here from October 28th, and he was ridden to lead in the seven runner heat, over a furlong out.

Chestnut Fire kept on strongly in the final furlong to comfortably beat the staying on Secret Wizard by three lengths.

"He loves that surface, and all the horses are holding their form well," concluded Halford.

(AM & EM)