Joseph O'Brien's Dances With Stars was strong in the market for the mile and a half handicap at Dundalk and the support was rewarded.

He travelled smoothly in third and swept through to lead approaching the final furlong.

Mikey Sheehy sent him home and the pair galloped in by a length and three quarters. Jake Peter had no answers once headed and settled for second at 5/1. No Trouble could make no impression in third at 4/1.

“That was lovely and will give the horse a little bit of confidence as he's had a couple of tough races” said assistant trainer Brendan Powell.

“I thought Mikey gave him a beautiful ride because the other horse has gone a nice gallop, (he) brought him into the race but when he could have gone for him he sat on him and kidded him along and then he stayed on nicely at the end.

“He's a big horse, a late-maturing horse even though he's had a few runs. I think he could get better and that may just have done his brain the world of good today.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson