JOCKEY Rowan Scott’s first visit to Dundalk yielded a victory aboard Robson De Aguiar’s Valiant Force in the Book Online @ DundalkStadium.com Race over five furlongs.

The 105-rated colt went off 10/11 favourite against three rivals for this assignment and stamped his authority on proceedings.

He disputed throughout with Little Queenie and Scott sent him on over a furlong out. He stretched away in the closing stages to score by a healthy four and a quarter lengths for Amo Racing Limited and Giselle De Aguiar.

Amo Racing representative Ryan McElligott said: “He was very good, and had a nice little break since he last ran, and he has come back in great form. We are hoping to go to Lingfield on February 21st for a listed race over five furlongs, the Hever Sprint Stakes.

“I don’t know if we will go back to the turf because it just didn’t seem to work. Obviously, with the preference of the all-weather you are somewhat curtailed in what he can do for the summer, but at the same time maybe he can win a couple of nice races.”

Drucker delivers

Sam Coen saw his claim cut from 7lb to 5lb after delivering on Drucker (4/1) in the Find Us On Facebook @dundalkstadium Handicap over a mile and a half.

Andy Slattery’s four-year-old gelding settled in mid-division and took closer order two furlongs down. Coen guided him to the front with a furlong to travel and his mount soon closed the door on the other as he ran on by four and a quarter lengths for owner Pat Garvey.

Coen said: “He was good there, he switched off well for us. The last day he just did it a little bit over the limit. He had a little wind op and I think that could be after setting him right.”

DANCING Saxon (13/2) held on by a nose to claim the Bar 1 Betting Bet €10 Get €50 Free Race for Joseph O’Brien. The Saxon Warrior filly made the breakthrough at the sixth time of asking and sported cheekpieces for the first time.

Her progression began in the straight and Declan McDonogh cajoled her into the lead inside the final furlong. The pair were strongly pressed close home by Flanker Jet and Scott, but won by the narrowest margin for Fishdance Limited.

McDonogh said: “She’s not over big, but she felt genuine today. Joseph put the cheekpieces on her and it definitely put her head in the right spot for me. The second horse kept me honest, he found plenty. I thought I was going to beat him easy.”

’You wouldn’t know with this one’

Prairie Girl won for the third time in her last four outings in the Dundalk Winter Series Leading Trainer & Jockey Championship Handicap over the minimum trip for John Kirkland and Mrs J.M. Ryan.

Seamie Heffernan brought her between horses racing to the final furlong and she took over inside that marker. From there, the 7/4 favourite proved a length and a half too strong for Clonmacash.

Trainer Danny Murphy said: “I’ll be honest, I have to give full credit to Seamie Heffernan because I said she just likes a little lead and he didn’t panic. There’s a 0-90 next month, so we will go there. I’d love to go turf in the middle of the summer - you wouldn’t know with this one.”

Well-suited step up

The step up to two miles in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap really suited Denis Hogan’s Tatateo who justified 5/2 favouritism.

Joey Sheridan held him up towards the rear and the five-year-old gelding travelled smoothly into contention in the final quarter of a mile. His momentum took him to the front in the final furlong and he bounded away by three lengths for the Final Reminder Syndicate.

Sheridan said: “I was second on him up here over a mile and a quarter and I thought he would win the mile and a half amateur race up here, but he just bumped into obviously a well-handicapped horse in Voice Of Reason who went on to win again.

“If he keeps going up in the ratings, he could be one for those nicer handicaps over a mile and six, and two miles.”

UNA Matata has really been paying her way on the Polytrack and secured another victory in the Put The Fun In Fundraising At Dundalk Handicap over seven furlongs.

The 9/4 favourite tracked the leaders and came through a furlong down. She found for Adam Caffrey in seeing off Go Out by half a length for owners Mark Devlin, Mark McGuckin and Claire Wylie.

Ado McGuinness said: “I think she is after winning three here for the year and she has been placed a few times. Great to get fillies like that, it keeps things ticking over. We could come back here for finals day or we could go across the water with her.”

Successful Summer

Summer Island (7/2) made a winning start to life with Natalia Lupini in the Dundalkstadium.com Apprentice Handicap over a mile. She raced towards the rear from the gates, but Reese Holohan availed of a lovely seam on the inner to soon improve.

They were well positioned to strike in third with a furlong and a half to go and stayed on to lead inside the final furlong. She hit the line with half a length in hand over 15/8 favourite Beat The Devil for owners Nigel O’Hare, Martin W. White, Mark Devlin and Craig Bryson.

Lupini said: “He has been a very straightforward horse since he joined our yard. His work has been solid. Based on his work, we thought he was probably a little bit better than his current handicap mark. He has been a solid enough performer for his previous yard and hopefully he can step forward again.”