Sceptical confirmed the promise of his debut effort at Dundalk last month with a smooth success in the six-furlong maiden this afternoon.

The Denis Hogan-trained gelding had finished third to Yale on his first outing here at the end of last month and stepped forward nicely from that run.

Sent off a well-backed 10/11 shot today, from 15/8 this morning, he was given a confident ride by Joe Doyle.

Having travelled sweetly to lead over a furlong out Doyle shook up his mount in the closing stages and asked him to stretch away late on to record a three-and-a-half length win over Abanica

Hogan said:- “He’s a lovely horse and was a bargain buy (for 2,800 sterling). As soon as we worked him we could see he had gears to burn.

“He was green here the first time, walked out of the stalls but came home well. He came on in leaps and bounds for the run.

“The boys have a couple of nice sprinters now and hopefully he’ll be one to add to the team next year. They are great supporters of me and of Dundalk racecourse, and they gotYuften back today as well so they are happy going home.

“I’m not sure what is here for him or even what sort of mark he will get. We have no real plan, and it’s not the end of the world if we have to park him until next year.

“It’s great to have Dundalk and it would be great if they could race twice a week all through the winter. It’s good that it was a day meeting today for the staff as well. That’s why I’m here as I’m not home at all hours and can function tomorrow.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)