It often pays to follow the money from early in the day when it comes to the action at Dundalk and the strongly backed favourite Lean And Keen delivered without too much fuss under Pat Smullen in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Race & Stay Package Maiden.

A first winner at the Dowdallshill venue for trainer Sean Byrne, the 5/4 shot was supported in from at least 5/2 this morning and the 'jolly' was always to the fore for his Cavan owner/breeder Seamus McConnon.

The seven times previously tried son of Antonius Pius led entering the straight and he was soon looking good. He finished off a comfortable two and a half lengths to the good from Bosstime

"He's improved from the Curragh. He's a big horse and he just took a bit of time.

"He'll go for a handicap now and he'd prefer a big galloping track," was Byrne's summation in the aftermath. (AM & EM)