Leclerc recorded his second win in the space of nine days when justifying 7/4 favouritism in division two of the William Hill Racing Radio Apprentice Handicap at Dundalk.

The Ado McGuinness-trained gelding had Bellick (second) and Lion Ring (fourth) behind when opening his account here last week and that form received a very timely boost when those rivals filled the first two places in division one just half an hour earlier.

Jazz Dancer was ridden to lead early in the straight and looked set to score inside the final furlong but Adam Caffrey got a good tune out of the favourite to reel him in close home.

Three quarters of a length separated the pair at the line with Bronze River a length and a half away in third.

McGuinness said, "The rider was good on him, I was starting to curse him up in the stands early in the straight but fair play to him he was cool and didn't panic.

“He's probably a horse that could win again. They are only new owners and he's had a second and two wins so we can't complain.

“I think he'll sharpen up into a nice horse next year. We'll probably wait with him now until after Christmas, I'll see what the handicapper does with him on Monday and make a decision.

“Conor (Brady, owner) is a local fella, he lives up the road in Cooley.”

Quotes by Gary Carson