De Coronado finally got back into the winning groove when he came with a powerful surge to take the feature race at Dundalk on Friday night.

Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old colt - a full brother to Zenyatta - had failed to hit the target in five previous starts this year.

But it all came together in the Dundalk Stadium - Light Up Your Night Race over an extended mile and a quarter as the imposing De Coronado took charge inside the final furlong and won by two lengths.

Heffernan said: "I thought he'd win if I could get into the middle of the track where the quickest ground is.

"He needs a dead-level surface - he's a dirt horse. He's probably still a bit immature. He was a wee bit green and immature.

"He has an amazing pedigree but has let us down a bit before. I thought I'd win if I was able to get up the middle of the track with him."

Denis Coakley saddled his first winner as a trainer when Boxer Dunford struck in the one-mile handicap.

The Co Kildare handler expressed delight at having achieved the important milestone after the 11/2 chance strode three-quarters of a length clear under the trainer's son, Ross.

Coakley, who is also part-owner of Boxer Dunford, said: "That's brilliant. It's my first winner from four runners.

"We were lucky as we would have been sticking to six and seven furlongs only there was nothing for him.

"We might have discovered by accident that his best trip is a mile.

"Denis Cullen trained three winners for us with Table Forty Six and Ross rode them but this is the first one I've trained."

READ THE FULL DUNDALK REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND