GER Lyons further enhanced his fine record in the €50,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Red God Handicap as the steady improver Heliac made it three wins from four starts in 2019 to leave her connections contemplating a stakes race campaign in 2020.

The Khalid Abdullah-owned three-year-old, who was giving Lyons a third win in seven years in Dundalk’s richest handicap of the season, was partnered by Chris Hayes, with the trainer’s stable jockey Colin Keane serving a one-day suspension.

This success bridged quite a gap for the trainer-jockey combination whose last success together came when Amourallis won the 2004 Ahonoora Handicap at the Galway Festival which was the first high-profile success of the rider’s career.

For her part, Heliac (6/1) turned in a very pleasing display. She chased the pace throughout and after holding every chance from well over a furlong out she was at her strongest in the closing stages.

She defeated the top-weight Massif Central by half a length, and with a winter behind her and going a mile and a half next year she can be a force at stakes level.

In the absence of Colin Keane, his title rival Donnacha O’Brien secured a valuable winner on Dancing On A Dream (7/1) in the BetVictor Bet 5 Get 40 Handicap over seven furlongs.

In the famous Peter Savill colours, this strong-travelling daughter of Dream Ahead had this race in safe keeping from over a furlong out and she went on to defeat Kafu by three lengths. Joseph O’Brien’s charge appeared to relish her first Dundalk experience and could easily be adding to her tally in the coming weeks.

In the apprentice riders’ championship, Andrew Slattery (who received a one-day careless riding ban earlier on the card) picked up an invaluable victory aboard Camachita in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Median Auction Maiden.

Johnny Murtagh’s juvenile lined up with strong credentials as she held a rating of 89 and had been placed in three of her first four starts and she made short work of these opponents. The 4/5 favourite asserted in style over the last furlong and a half to win by four and a quarter lengths.

THE thoughts of Michael O’Callaghan were fixed firmly on next year as Now The King ran out a commanding winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Median Auction Maiden.

This son of Baltic King had shown a good level of form to reach the frame on his first two outings and he was much the best on show in this seven-furlong affair.

Leigh Roche’s mount strode to the front with purpose entering the last quarter of a mile and he registered a commanding two-and-a-half-length triumph over the newcomer Thames River.

“He’s a big and horse will mature plenty over the winter. He’s shown that he has stakes ability at home and we’ll look at maybe coming back for the Patton Stakes here next March,” reported O’Callaghan.

Damien English put a frustrating three months without a winner behind him as Trading Point, a runner-up in the Irish Lincolnshire at the outset of the season, took the mile handicap under Ronan Whelan.

The Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate-owned 12/1 shot was going notably well in behind the leaders early in the straight and when asked to make sure of victory he scrambled home by a head from Mutadaawel who was slightly hampered by the winner inside the distance. Lingfield’s All Weather Finals day could be the long term aim for this five-year-old.

Alan Glynn notched up the third success of his career and in the process saw his claim reduced from 10lb to seven after Jessica Harrington’s Sweet Dime sprang a 33/1 shock in the apprentice riders’ handicap over a mile and a half.

The Ronchalon Ireland-owned daughter of Toronado bounced back to the level of form that saw her chase home Tarnawa in a Leopardstown maiden at the start of the season as she accounted for the favourite, Grandmaster Flash. She could easily progress further over the coming weeks.

Tartlette looks tasty

ON her first outing since being bought for 11,000gns out of Hughie Morrison’s yard in July, Tartlette (10/1) made a winning debut for Shane Crawley in the first division of the 45-65 rated handicap over an extended 10 furlongs.

Seamie Heffernan took his time on the 10/1 shot who made sustained progress through the field to lead inside the distance and defeat For Your Eyes by two and a quarter lengths. Crawley is eyeing a possible jumping campaign next year for the daughter of Champs Elysees who is owned by the Eyeroller Syndicate.

John McConnell’s three strong challenge for the second division of the 45-65 rated handicap was rewarded with a one-three-five finish and his contestants headed by the Wayne Lordan-ridden Rockview Roman (16/1).

The Let’s Get Lucky Racing Club-owned three-year-old got home by a length and a quarter after leading at the furlong pole. The son of Holy Roman Emperor did well to overcome a stall 17 draw and appeals as one that will progress further after just six career outings.