GUINEVERE finally delivered on the promise she showed over the course of 2019 to land the featured mile-and-a-half handicap and the manner in which it was achieved might well pave the way for further success in the coming weeks.

Ray Cody’s charge lined up as a 14-race maiden under all codes but form such as her third to Tarnawa in a Leopardstown maiden last April suggested that the bottom-weight was anything but a forlorn hope.

In a sedately run race, the 16/1 chance emerged travelling best of all entering the last couple of furlongs and she went to the front for Conor Hoban passing the furlong pole.

Miss Snossyboots stuck to her task once she lost the lead but the victorious Camelot four-year-old kept on well to score by a length.

Cody indicated that the Ballygallon Stud-owned winner would be back at Dundalk towards the end of the month and he expects her to go back jumping in due course.

Colin Keane enjoyed an industrious evening as he reeled off a double which began when Phoenix Open readily justified evens favouritism in the mile claimer.

Ger Lyons has quite a record in these races and this Mark Breen-owned son of Scat Daddy did his bit to uphold the trainer’s enviable strike rate in this sphere.

There were some 16 bids lodged for the 77-rated winner, who lined up with a price tag of €15,000, and Shane Duffy emerged as the successful claimant.

Rag Tatter was claimed for €3,000 by James McAuley and will join Denis Hogan after belying odds of 66/1 to finish fourth.

Colin Keane was also successful on the Jack Davison-trained Outside Inside (6/1) in the seven-furlong rated race. The five-year-old had been placed on five of her seven starts since joining Davison and was able to notch up the second success of her career as a canny Keane took his time off a withering early pace.

The Garrett Freyne-owned daughter of Holy Roman Emperor got on top to win by a length and three-quarters and make light of her stall 14 draw.

Halford looks to the future with Mecklenburg

MECKLENBURG, a colt who is held in good regard by Michael Halford, made a winning return from almost five months off in the six-furlong three-year-old maiden. This son of Power showed promise on his sole outing in a Cork maiden in mid-August and again served notice of his prowess with a likeable display.

The 3/1 favourite was perhaps a little fresh and keen with the result that he found himself vying for the lead turning for home.

To his credit, Mecklenburg sustained his effort when it mattered and he responded well to Ronan Whelan to get the better of the pace-setting Chanell Eclipse inside the distance, prevailing by a head. The winner is owned by his breeder and HRI Chairman Nicky Hartery.

“He’s a lovely horse but is still raw and mentally immature. He’s a very good mover who wants all of seven furlongs and I think he can improve plenty from here,” reflected Halford.

ANTHONY McCann achieved the distinction of sending out the last winner of the year at Dundalk in 2019 and he also supplied the track’s first winner of 2020 as Red Cymbal sprang a 33/1 shock under Danny Sheehy in the five-furlong handicap.

A mere 1,000gns purchase just under a year ago, the Rita Shah-owned gelding produced much his best effort since coming to Ireland. He had this race under control with over a furlong to run and he reached the line with a length and three-quarters to spare.

This winner has been lightly enough raced over the last 12 months and could easily progress further.

There was a much more predictable outcome to the 45-65 rated mile handicap where the 7/2 favourite Miracles In May made a successful first venture on the Polytrack.

Mark Cahill trains the reliable five-year-old for his breeder Frank McNulty, and Ben Coen, who was on board the gelding when he won at Naas in April, produced Miracles In May to get on top over the last furlong for a half-length triumph over Adnap.

JOHN McConnell is making quite a start to the year and he bagged a double at this fixture to go with his brace at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day.

The trainer captured both divisions of the 45-65 rated 10-furlong handicap and struck first with the Rory Cleary-ridden Happaugue.

This 7/1 chance was making just the sixth appearance of his career and he looked to have everything covered from early in the straight before eventually defeating Rock On Aidan by a length and three-quarters.

This Caroline Ahearn-owned gelding looks the type to win again in the coming weeks.

Magi Gal (7/1) completed the double to give jockey Siobhan Rutledge the second success of her career having provided her with her initial victory at Navan in September. The Rockview Racing Club-owned mare was deftly guided through the field in the straight to strike the front with around a furlong to run and she went on to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Pretty Little Liar.