FORMER Royal Ascot winner Pique Sous unshipped Pat Smullen before the start and took no part as Rashaan claimed a narrow victory in the ASM Chartered Accountants Race at Dundalk.

The Willie Mullins-trained Pique Sous, victorious at the Royal meeting in 2014 and off the track since finishing seventh in the Ascot Stakes last June, was being loaded into the stalls before breaking free and running loose on the track for around 10 minutes.

The favourite's inevitable withdrawal led to a shake-up in the betting, with last month's course and distance winner Winter Lion sent off the 11/10 market leader.

Just as he had done on his latest appearance, Winter Lion was sent straight to the front by Wayne Lordan and remained at the head of affairs rounding the home turn. However, first Elishpour cruised up menacingly before the Colin Kidd-trained Rashaan began to respond to Niall McCullagh's urgings.

The pair settled down to fight it out in the final furlong and it was 2/1 shot Rashaan, making his first appearance since claiming the scalp of top-class mare Apple's Jade in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal in November, who won the argument by a neck.

Kidd said: "I don't think he was in love with it around here. He didn't travel great, but his ability got him through it. If we get a fine week he could possibly go for the Red Mills Hurdle (at Gowran Park on Saturday). After that we will stay at home for Fairyhouse and Punchestown unless a suitable flat race came up in the meantime.

"He takes his races well. He'd only run in the November Handicap about five days before he won in Down Royal, and he'd a run in the Cesarewitch three days before he was second to Hidden Cyclone.

"There is plenty to work on, and Niall said he had a good blow. There is loads of improvement in him. He's only back in six weeks, and hopefully it will be a long season for him."

Brokopondo and Political Policy dead-heated for third.

TWO FROM TWO

Fizzy Friday made it two from two with a determined display in the Horse First Supplements Race. Successful on her debut over this course and distance in November, Andy Oliver's filly took the next step up the ladder in her stride.

The 11/10 favourite pressured leader Ely Place until hitting the front on the home turn and although the hat-trick seeking Alfredo Arcano loomed up as a massive danger, Fizzy Friday pulled out more to score by a neck.

Oliver said: "She had a month off after her last win because there was nothing else for her, so she is only back cantering about five weeks and had one proper bit of work.

"I was afraid of fitness and Conor (Hoban) said she blew up near the line. She is really game and tough and, touch wood, there is plenty of improvement. She wandered about a bit with inexperience.

"There is another race like this in March, and then there is a listed race and/or Guineas trial. They would be our stepping stones. She has a great attitude, she just loves it and is thriving.

"We thought that she had improved but my one concern was that she was completely off over Christmas and has really only had one piece of work. I thought fitness would catch her and, all things considered, I was very pleased with that performance."

IMPORTANT WIN

The well-bred Heartful got an all-important victory under her belt in the Sevens Cabs & Coach Hire Fillies Maiden.

Dermot Weld's four-year-old is a daughter of the stable's former top filly Mad About You and, despite failing to build on her debut second behind Seventh Heaven last year, was sent off the 11/4 joint-favourite.

Pat Smullen got her across from a wide draw to sit outside the front-running Cock A Doodle Do and when given the office by the champion jockey, Heartful stretched nicely clear to account for main market rival Teagan Angel by three and three-quarter lengths.

"I didn't think it would take this length of time to win her maiden. She is obviously a very well-bred filly and to get a winning bracket with her is really job done," said Smullen.

"She had a super first run last year, and the filly that beat her kept progressing and we didn't. She was entitled to win a maiden. The break has done her no harm and I think being fresh is a help to her. She handles this surface and, on today's evidence, she will probably be able to go a bit further."

Arbourfield was originally first reserve for the Bulmers Apprentice Handicap but got into the field and took full advantage in the hands of Robbie Downey, accounting for Lily's Prince by a length at odds of 9/2.

MAIDEN SUCCESS

Sebastian Bach had been gelded since he signed off his juvenile campaign with a no-show at the Galway Festival and he returned an improved animal in Dundalk's Fyffes Maiden.

Shane Kelly was eager to lead on the 11/10 favourite and kicked off the bend, with Michael O'Callaghan's three-year-old running right the way to the line to see off Shinko Princess by two and a half lengths.

O'Callaghan said: "He wasn't fully wound-up for tonight. I only decided last week to give him a run and see where we are at with him. He's a light-framed sort of horse and doesn't take much getting fit. I thought he would be a bit short of a run but wanted to get him started.

"He had the form in the book from last year, and this was a good opportunity. We might try and sell him. He would be an ideal horse for America after winning around here."

Admodom was other to make a successful reappearance in the Ever Kleen Contract Cleaners Handicap. Freshened up by Jim Bolger since his last run in October, the 13/2 shot was sent to the front two furlongs out by Kevin Manning and kept going to keep Poetic Choice a length and a half at bay.

Bolger's representative Ger Flynn said: "It was his first run since being gelded, and Kevin said he won well. He loves the surface and is a lovely good-looking horse. I'm sure the boss will find something for him in the next couple of weeks.

"Coming back in trip was a bit of a concern. He won over a mile and two in Down Royal but he seemed to have enough speed there this evening, and it opens up a lot more options for him now."

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