After the nose winning verdict in the 6.05, we had another minimum distance margin between winner, Settle For Red and runner-up, Red Words in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Apprentice Handicap. On a night of rousing finishes, those two were added to the head wins of Another Story (5.35) and Neatly Put (7.05).

It took quite a while before the judge could split them in this 8.05 but the print showed that heavily backed favourite Settle For Red (11/4 into 7/4) had just got home under Connor King.

"He's a grand old horse and he likes those short-heads (won by a nose here on November 6th). He keeps his head down at the right time," said winning trainer David Marnane.

"The handicapper can't do much with him there and he'll come up here again.

"He's had a long old year but he's as good as ever and looks great. He likes that quick surface.

"He might idle a bit in front. He's done us no harm since he came back from England."

(GC & EM)