< Aloof grabbed the opportunity to lose her maiden tag with a commanding victory in the Christmas Parties At Dundalk Race on her return to the all-weather track.

David Wachman's juvenile (4-6 favourite) had the misfortune to run into susbsequent Rockfel Stakes winner Wading on her previous appearance, but there was nothing of that calibre among her rivals this time.

The giant filly was a little smarter from the gates than Niall McCullagh might have wanted and raced keenly in front, but she had enough left to forge clear of Shukhov to score by a length and a quarter.

Wachman will have been hoping for a double when Azores went to post for the Winter Racing At Dundalk Maiden, but the well-bred daughter of Danehill Dancer found one too good for the fourth time.

The favourite hit the front in the straight, but Johnny Murtagh swept past on the Charlie Swan-trained Maggie Neary (11-2) to win by two and a quarter lengths.

It was a second victory for Murtagh, who drove Charles O'Brien's 9-4 favourite Fantasy King into the lead a furlong out in the Winter Racing At Dundalk Handicap on the way to victory by a length and a quarter.

Shane Foley was always in the perfect position to strike on Eddie Lynam's 9-10 favourite Choral Society in the Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden.

Third for most of the way, the juvenile challenged long-time leader Tawariyka a furlong out and having disposed of the Aga Khan's challenger, held Tannery s late charge by a head.

Having slipped down the ratings to a career low, Richelieu ended a victory drought stretching back to the beach meeting at Laytown over two years ago when he took the [email protected] Handicap.

It looked tight for Chris Hayes entering the closing stages, but he managed to pull out Lee Smyth's nine-year-old and the 9-2 joint-favourite grabbed Rigid Rock to win by a length and a quarter.