MAINICIN registered her first success on an artificial surface with a determined display in Dundalk's Fitzpatrick's Bar & Restaurant Handicap on Friday night.

Jim Bolger's mare has been consistent in defeat but was bumping into a handful of horses who had beaten her recently, including the three that finished ahead of her over a mile and a half two weeks ago.

Dropped slightly in distance, the 9/2 favourite tracked the pace under Kevin Manning and after hitting the front, kept going gamely to repel the late thrust of Specific Gravity by half a length, with Song Of Love a close-up third.

Bolger's representative Ger Flynn said: "As Kevin said, she's not winning out of turn and she deserved that. She resilient and tough and just keeps running into good horses. It's the same horses here every week really and she's won in turn.

"She was game this evening and just held on in the end. It's nice to get another win in to her after persevering all winter. I'm sure the boss will find something for her next week or the week after and bring her back again.

"Kevin said you could throw a blanket over five or six of them before the race and there is not 2lb between the whole lot of them on runs. In fairness, the handicapper is spot-on and getting it right. They are running to their marks nearly every week in fairness to the horses - they are all consistent."

GENUINE FILLY

Duchessofflorence (11/2) had only tackled a mile and a half once before, with no success, but Conor Hoban gave her a patient ride in the www.sherryproperty.ie Handicap (Div 1) and she saw it out well to beat Asian Wing by a length.

Trainer Michael Halford said: "She's a genuine filly and in that grade she's able to carry the weight as she's a big strong filly. She'll be covered in the spring so we'll see if we give her another try now that she has her head in front a couple of times."

Hello Humpfrey (7/1) ran a cracker for the second on his comeback here a couple of weeks ago and went one better in the second division.

"It worked out well. They went a nice sensible gallop. He settled well today and picked up well," said winning jockey Niall McCullagh. "I actually got there a bit too soon. As long as the handicapper is not too hard on him he should be competitive for the rest of the winter."

Our Manekineko is at his best over the Dundalk mile and scored for the sixth time here with a clear-cut victory in the Mayfly Marketing Handicap as an 8-1 chance.

IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY

Grey Danube regained the winning thread with an impressive display of sustained speed in the Ramada Resort, Dundalk Handicap.

Despite being saddled with the welter burden of 10st 1lb - minus Damien Melia's 7lb claim - Darren Bunyan's stable stalwart soon grabbed the lead, and it was one he was never to relinquish. The 20/1 chance kicked early in the straight and the move proved decisive because try as Cocoa Beach might, she could never really get on terms and had to settle for second, half a length adrift.

Bunyan said: "I'm delighted to get that again with him. He was unlucky here the last night when he just threw away the start a bit. I think that takes him level, on eight, for the most wins here at Dundalk. The difference with him, and the credit he deserves, is that he's doing it at the top end here all the time.

"He's the only horse I have now this winter for the all-weather as I've changed the yard around a good bit and got rid of all the older horses. We've a real smart bunch of three-year-olds for this year and we bought in a lovely bunch of two-year-olds. We're very much looking forward to the turf season.

"This lad will be around as long as I'm around - he's part of the furniture. When you have one that can get within earshot of this lad, you know you have one. We're delighted with him. He's a star in his own right.

"I had the six-furlong Fast Track Qualifier in March in mind for him. That's a definite part of the plan for him. He can go five, six or seven furlongs these days. He's best over six and seven. There is no reason not to think about Lingfield should be win the qualifier.

"He's not your typical five-, six-furlong horse as you can't run him that often. He gives everything he has every time he runs. I don't normally want to run him twice within a month. We might look at something in February or might just keep him fresh for the qualifier.

"It's great for Damien, who signed on with us a couple of months ago, as that's his first winner in a while. He's a great addition to the team this year. He was doing everything right and that's why I gave him the opportunity. He'll do well hopefully."

TEMPTATION

David Marnane will resist the temptation of a trip to Dubai with Alfredo Arcano, despite him landing the Linencare - Linen Rental Services Race.

His task was made easier by the defection of old adversary Duplication and he was backed down to 8/11 favouritism. He settled in behind the pacesetting Fox Dream and although the official winning margin was only three-parts of a length, he was value for a fair bit more, with Connor King never having to get too serious.

"He's a lovely horse and is progressing away," said Marnane. "He won't go to Dubai because he's too keen for it. I wouldn't like to be giving him much longer than a five-week break.

"We'll come back here for another winners' race and the Lingfield three-year-old race would definitely be in the back of my mind. To me he's still getting better and mentally he still needs to get a good bit better, but he will."

Train Time showed a tremendous attitude to break her duck in the New Creation Design & Print Maiden. Having made the running, Henry de Bromhead's 7/1 chance was headed by Wrap Star, with favourite Tetraites also challenging hard, but Wayne Lordan threw everything at Train Time and she got back up to deny Wrap Star by a neck.

Lordan said: "She's a grand filly and is mad genuine. She had previous runs here to suggest she was good enough to win. The last day I rode her, I didn't feel like I went quick enough on her. Today I let her stride away. She's genuine and she stays. She battled back really well. She lacks a gear but keeps going really well."

Ellaria was another to get on the scoresheet for the first time, coming with a sterling run against the rail to deny Lily's Prince in the Kelliher's Electrical Handicap.

READ THE FULL DUNDALK REPORT IN NEXT WEEK'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD