ADAM Caffrey partnered a 251/1 treble including two winners for trainer Ado McGuinness as the final flat meeting of the year went ahead an hour late due to a motorway incident that held up many of the participants.

Boxing Great set the ball rolling for Caffrey when justifying strong support (10/1 earlier in the day and sent off the 2/1 favourite) in the two-mile HRI Best Turned-Out Flat League Handicap.

Trained by Karl Thornton for the Gibneys Racing Syndicate, he led a furlong out and got well on top in the closing stages to beat Lady Plimsoll by a comfortable length and three-quarters.

“He gave away plenty of lengths coming out of the stalls the last day. It is a good trip for him, and he saw it out really well. His wind is his biggest issue, but he settled well and gave himself a chance. Once he does that, he has the ability,” said Caffrey.

Real Star

Nikki Swango has proved a real star for Caffrey, McGuinness and owner Claire Wylie and made it four wins from her last five starts when coming out on top in a thrilling finish to the Dundalk Stadium Champion Trainer & Jockey Awards 2025 Handicap.

The Galileo Gold filly has gone up a total of 29lb since starting that run of success at the end of October and really dug deep in the closing stages to just get the better of Little Empire by a short-head.

“Adam said she gave him everything. She’s never had a gallop since she ran here the last day, we just keep her sweet. We’ll have to give her a little bit of a breather, and I think we’ll have a look at the fillies’ race in Newcastle on Good Friday,” said McGuinness of the 6/1 winner.

Treble up

Caffrey completed his treble and McGuinness sealed the champion trainer award at Dundalk this year as Jawhary bridged a gap of over four years since his last win in the Horse Racing Returns To Dundalk Friday 9th January 2026 Handicap.

The 11/1 shot was ridden to challenge early in the straight and kept on gamely on the stand side inside the final furlong to beat Waystar by a length and a half.

“I’m delighted for Stephen (Reddy, owner) as he has this horse with me for a while. From nearly pulling the plug with him, he would throw a good run in. The last day was good, and he was unlucky not to win.

“Adam is riding brilliantly. They have to improve 3lb when they lose the claim and he has definitely. He is a big fella who works very hard with his weight and is very strong in a finish,” said McGuinness who took the trainers’ award with 22 winners. Colin Keane was the top rider with 25 wins.

GENOAH showed the benefit of a run here earlier this month to record his third win over the extended 10 furlongs at Dundalk in the featured Bar 1 Betting Merry Christmas Handicap.

There were still plenty in contention as the 6/1 (from 17/2) chance was ridden to challenge over a furlong and he kept on best under Leigh Roche to score by three-quarters of a length from Final Voyage.

“We probably went to the well one too many times, and he just needed a freshen up,”said Michael O’Callaghan, who trains the gelding for Alto Equine Building Solutions.

“We made the decision early on to give him a proper break in the summer to get him back for here, and he had a lovely run here the last day. He is a horse with a bit of class..”

Jack Foley opened his training account here the previous Friday and wasted no time adding to his tally as 100/30 chance Midnight Dusk took division one of the Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Stadium Maiden.

The son of Havana Grey finished strongly under Liam McAteer to beat This Guy by a length and a quarter and Foley said: “It is great to get two in a week and with two two-year-olds as well. It is very important for Donnchadh (Doyle, owner). We will probably be 90% flat and 10% jumps.”

LEVERAGING opened his account at the fourth attempt when making virtually all in division two of the six-furlong maiden.

Trained by Sheila Lavery for Carmel Lordan, the 6/1 shot was smartly away from his outside draw and kept on well inside the final furlong for Robbie Colgan to beat promising newcomer Bright Eye Bungle by three-quarters of a length.

“I’ve always thought a lot of that horse but stupidly ran him on soft, and then he ran here and scoped dirty. I think we will give him a break now and he could be on the market,” said Lavery.

The addition of blinkers proved just the trick for Tina’s Charm (13/2) who recorded a decisive victory in the Fundraise At Dundalk Stadium In 2026 Maiden.

The daughter of Mehmas, trained by Dermot Weld for owner/breeder Leslie Young, stormed clear inside the final 150 yards to beat Leopold The First by four lengths and winning rider Chris Hayes said: “She loved the surface and the boss decided to put the blinkers on as he felt they would keep her focused under the lights.

“I probably got there sooner than ideal, but she shocked me how well she quickened up.”

Followed up

Far From Dandy followed up his win here last month when again patiently ridden by Jack Kearney to take the Last Minute Gift Vouchers Available Online Rated Race with the 11/4 chance striking the front inside the final furlong and holding off the challenge of Fixation by half a length.

The Shamrock Thoroughbreds syndicate were out in force and trainer Stephen Thorne said: “It was a really true-run mile, and I think that is what he needs.

“He’s a horse that has a lot of talent but is still growing up mentally and we could aim him at Newcastle (on Good Friday).”