IQBAL Khan lit up Dundalk with another success on Lahore Da King (4/1) in the Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap on Wednesday.

Khan, with 17 winners in his homeland before moving to Ireland 20 years ago, steered his family’s Lahore Da King to a memorable win.

Tucked in behind the leaders, Khan struck for home opting for just three flicks of the whip and won pulling up, from Profit Surge.

Draped in his native flag of Pakistan, overjoyed Khan commented: “I was confident, the last furlong went easy and there wasn’t too much whipping needed - only pushing. I’m very fit and every day I go running. I love horses.”

Lahore Da King carries the silks of Khan’s son-in-law Mudassar Rafiq, who added: “Iqbal is from Lahore and that’s why the horse’s name is Lahore Da King. He has worked for Jim Bolger for the last 10 years and he rides my horses.

“Tony (Mullins, winning trainer) has trained him really well, he gave him a chance a couple of times and he proved that he can still ride. It was a really good ride today, with back-to-back wins so I’m really happy.”

Bargain-buy Instant Appeal (6/5 favourite) completed a hat-trick of wins in the Bar 1 Betting Gift Vouchers Available In Shop Handicap, scoring for trainer Stephen Thorne, owners Shamrock Thoroughbreds and jockey Jack Kearney.

Having joined Thorne following his £15,500 July purchase, the gelding was ridden from off the pace, before eventually finishing well to beat runner-up Big Gossey by a length and a quarter.

Thorne said: “We said we would test the waters over seven furlongs because there was no race for him until mid-February and he was in ripping form. He has been a remarkable horse the last couple of months for us and is flying the flag.

“We are thinking about going to the Good Friday meeting in Newcastle for a couple of our horses and I think a stiff mile would suit Instant Appeal.”

Ado McGuinness was on the mark in the Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Stadium Nursery with Coincidental Glory (7/2), which benefited from jockey Sam Coen’s 7lb claim to score by a head from well-backed handicap debutante Apiary.

Regarding his Total Recall Racing Club/Jimmy Fairhurst/Nigel O’Hare/ Kabin Racing Syndicate-owned winner, McGuinness revealed: “Adam (Caffrey, stable jockey) said to me the last time that the horse might benefit from claiming off him and taking the 7lb off his back was a big help today. Sam (Coen) does really well, is great value for 7lb and he is very strong.

“We were drawn wide, so our biggest thing was to get settled and we did. I’m delighted for the lads, who are good supporters of mine.”

TRAINER Gavin Cromwell has recently hit form and scored with heavily-gambled newcomer Camino Vino (morning 40s, returned 9/4) in the Bar 1 Betting Watch Live Racing On Our App Race.

Ridden by Rory Cleary, the Invincible Spirit filly raced in mid-division and, while Evening Blues went clear a furlong out, she was worn down in the closing stages by Camino Vino, who collected the Christmas cash, by a length and a quarter.

Jockey Cleary reported: “Eddie and Wendy (O’Leary, owners) had her at the breeze-ups in May, but she wasn’t making enough money. Eddie liked her so much that he decided to hang on to her, and she just took time to mature and develop.”

Maye on the mark

Hasiyna’s (6/1) success in the opening Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap put apprentice jockey Jessica Maye back on the map, scoring on her first ride for new employer, trainer John McConnell and owners Rockview Stables.

Initially held up in mid-field, Maye moved Hasiyna to lead over a furlong out, with the pair scoring by a neck from Hero Of The Hour.

Maye reported: “I hadn’t ridden in quite a while, so I’d like to thank John and everyone in the yard for giving me the opportunity. I hadn’t done much all year, had a fairly quiet year with one winner in June, so decided to change.

“Hasiyna had a really good run here two weeks ago and she flew for me today.”

McConnell added: “Jess is in with me four days a week, so it was great to give her a spin on a good one. Hasiyna was probably in front for too long the last day, so I just said to Jess to hold on to her for one run today.”

IT was an important day for pony racing-graduate Reese Holohan, who registered a first racecourse success to land the concluding DundalkStadium.com Handicap on the Denis Hogan-trained, James McAuley-owned Benavente (7/1).

While Benavente’s path was blocked by rivals early in the straight, Holohan coolly switched right and gave the seven-year-old a strong and polished drive to collect by a length and a quarter from Queen Aethelflaed.

Apprenticed to trainer Mark Fahey, 16-year-old Holohan, from Co Laois, reported: “That is brilliant! You’d always be looking at the likes of Dylan Browne and Colin Keane and pony racing is a great learning curve. It teaches you everything you need to know for coming here.” Regarding the race, he added: “When we were turning for home, he just took off. It is nice to get winners when you are riding pony racing, but this feels different.”

Robson De Aguiar, having taken over the training of Amo Racing’s horses in recent weeks, registered a second success with Square Necker (8/13 favourite) in the Floodlit Fridays At Dundalk Stadium Maiden.

Ridden by Wayne Lordan, the gelded three-year-old raced prominently throughout before scoring readily by three and three-quarter lengths from Nuit.

Lordan reported: “He was very straightforward, stays well and he’s a nice horse who handles out there well.

“I think he will improve again. I didn’t want to start racing too early today so company from Nuit was fine, I didn’t mind.”

He added: “Robson knows what to do and he had him right. He said he hadn’t run in a while, but he will improve. I think he’s better at a mile and a half. When you go that trip, he has a bit of class to travel through the race well.”