NATALIA Lupini and Wayne Lordan teamed up to register a double on the card. Pass Me If You Can initiated the brace when overcoming a wide draw to win the opening five-furlong maiden. Sent off 11/2, the Karen McMullen-owned gelding led a furlong out, keeping on well to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

Assistant trainer Craig Bryson said: “His first run was nice and Wayne thought that the second run, over six furlongs, maybe stretched him a wee bit. Back to five (furlongs) today, he broke well and he just improved again.

“He’ll make into a nice sprint horse and hopefully he can be a bit of fun for the summer.”

Bargain buy

Thaloria completed the Lupini/Lordan brace when causing a 40/1 upset in the first of two seven-furlong handicaps. Bought in September for just 1,000gns, the four-year-old defied a slow start to come through to lead over a furlong out. Keeping on in determined fashion, the filly went on to score by one and three-quarter lengths in Lupini’s colours

Lupini reported: “She looks like she is improving. We only got her in the autumn from an online sale. She only had two runs in England and then one for us as well.

“She found her level today and hopefully she improves. Wayne was saying she was lovely and relaxed. Wayne said she could go for a mile as well.”

TOM McCourt’s admirable eight-year-old Inishmot Prince landed a 10th success at the venue, when staying on best to win the six-furlong handicap. Always prominent, the Oliver Curtis-owned 7/1 chance led inside the final 100 yards, beating Mehman by one and a quarter lengths.

McCourt commented: “He’s a right aul horse, he’s a lovely horse to train and very simple to do things with. He was coming down to a great mark and I thought he would take a lot of beating today. James (Ryan, jockey) gets on seriously well with him. Once he got to the furlong pole upsides, he does his best work coming home.”

Course specialist

Ryan went on to record a double aboard The Real Screamer in the finale over 10 and a half furlongs. Trained by Paul Flynn, the Maydon Partnership-owned 2/1 chance led a furlong out before going clear to win by three lengths.

On the winner, who is now three from three at Dundalk, Ryan said: “He seems to love it here. I was lucky enough to sit on him a couple of weeks ago and he seemed in great nick. Paul was happy with him.

“I went through the race real nicely, just had to give him a bit of a squeeze when we were turning into the straight just to keep up with them. As soon as I straightened up, I picked up nicely.”

ADO McGuinness and Adam Caffrey took the Dundalk Winter Series Leading Trainer & Jockey Championship Handicap with Exquisite Acclaim. Sent off 6/1 following his recent runner-up effort, the Thomas O’Connor and Hazel McGuinness-owned gelding led over two furlongs out and held off all challengers to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

McGuinness said: “He’s very consistent - he always gets his couple of races. It is great to get him back in front. He’s a great fun horse and he pays his way.

“There’s a race in Newcastle next week, it is 35 grand, and we might slip into it. It is for 0-85s, I think. We’ll have to see with the ratings, but we might go there.”

Nowsheswinning

Nowshesdancing made a winning debut in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Maiden for Gavin Ryan and Mark Fahey. Sent off 18/1 in the colours of the MMW Racing Syndicate, the newcomer overcame trouble in running to get up close home to prevail by a neck.

Fahey said: “The race wasn’t run to suit her at all, because they went very steady and she had to come from behind. She got checked as well too, up the straight, and lost a bit of momentum.

“I’d say this one is pretty decent. I know it probably wasn’t the strongest race, but all she could do was win and there is going to be loads of improvement in her. She could be for sale too and she is definitely going to go down the jumping route as well. She’s a big, strong filly and is one to look forward to.”

Second time lucky

Joseph O’Brien sent out the Al Shaqab Racing-owned Porter to win his second start in the 10-and-a-half-furlong maiden. Always prominent under Declan McDonogh, the 4/1 chance led two furlongs out and stayed on well to beat stablemate Arrietty by half a length.

McDonogh said: “I had a lovely set-up and got in behind one just to let him relax. The pace was honest for what they were and he dropped his head nicely and true to the line, I thought he toughed it out well.”