A CLOSE second in the Grade 3 American St Leger at Arlington Park in mid-August, Panama Hat (5/6 into 8/11) took the honours in the three-runner Group 3 Diamond Stakes.

The Team Valor International LLC-owned chesnut, as usual found plenty for pressure, under Chris Hayes, to head the first-time visored front-runner, Carla Bianca, about a furlong out.

Andy Oliver’s charge then went on to triumph by a length, with a length and a quarter to the other participant, Unsinkable.

“I knew it would be a tactical affair and I was afraid tactics might get him beat. He got a lead but it was steadier than I would have liked,” said Oliver. “He’s a pleasure of a horse to train and I have to thank Team Valor for the support.

“They’ve been very easy to train for and very supportive. I spoke to the owners before tonight, and said I’d be happy to finish here for the year, as he’s had plenty of racing, but we’ll discuss it as he’s still in good heart.”

Half an hour earlier, Jamesie (14/1), second longest-priced of the night for the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Race, broke his duck at Dundalk on the sixth attempt. Damian Lavelle’s seven-year-old had gone close here in the past, but on this occasion, under Connor King, he was in front at the furlong pole.

After Jamesie had crossed the line three-quarters of a length and a short-head up on Eisenhower and Togoville, his trainer David Marnane commented: “He’s a great old horse. He’ll come back here for the Mercury Stakes (October 23rd) and there is also a race for him in Lingfield in mid-November. He loves this surface.”

Joseph O’Brien, second there on Eisenhower, also had to settle for the runner-up position, as his mount Tooreen Legend went down by a length and three-quarters to Vale Do Sol (9/4 favourite) in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

A strong order from when betting developed on this extended 10-furlong heat, from around 5/1 into his starting price, Vale Do Sol and Colin Keane raced to a convincing victory. Sean Jones’ Vale Of York three-year-old is now sales bound, and Shane Lyons, brother of successful handler, Ger, predicted: “I think he’ll make a good jumper. He’s a fine big horse with plenty of pace. He stays a trip and likes a cut in the ground.”

JOSEPH O’BRIEN

Joseph O’Brien did make his mark on the eight-race programme, when getting Mountmills (11/4 favourite) home by a neck, in split two of the Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Handicap.

The Jim Magill owned and bred well-supported market-leader raced at the back after being slow away in the finale. O’Brien got Mountmills through traffic in the straight, he led from a furlong and a half out, and then held Ondamoura inside the last.

Winning trainer Tony Mulholland told an improvement in form stewards’ enquiry that a return to this surface, after a break in which he was freshened up, coupled with a return to waiting tactics, may have brought about any apparent improvement in form. Those reasons were noted.

Whatever It Takes (9/2 joint-favourite) landed division one of this 47 to 65 race. Having sported different head-gear in the past, the victorious High Chaparral gelding had a first-time visor on here. He took the spoils by four and a half lengths in the hands of Fran Berry.

Niall Madden has care of Whatever It Takes for J.P. McManus and the seven-year-old brought his career total to seven wins.

The other handicap, the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Apprentice event over a mile, fell the way of Political Policy (8/1) for owner Frank Lynch and Gavin Cromwell.

A week on from a course and distance win, the Bushranger gelding made light of a 6Ib higher mark and top weight. A confident Sean Corby guided Political Policy through with his run in the final quarter mile, going on to defeat the dead-heaters, Kodiac’s Back, and Aye Aye Skipper, by a length and a half.

“He’s taking his racing very well and he’s been running basically every week. He seems to be improving,” remarked Cromwell.

Earlier, there was an initial winner under the J.P. Murtagh Racing-banner as Artytype (5/1) signalled strong hope for his future by capturing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden (Plus 10 Race) with Ross Coakley in the plate.

Robbie Downey had to deal with his saddle slipping forward on the favourite, Somebodytoldme, and she had to yield by two and a quarter lengths to Artytype.

Murtagh suggested of his charge, coming forward nicely from a Curragh debut in August: “I think he’ll make a nice horse next year and he should improve a bit. I’ll see how he comes out of it but that’s probably it for the year.”

NEWCOMER

Heavily-backed newcomer Embiyra (4/6), with Shane Foley up, triumphed by a head from Glenmayne in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden (Plus 10 Race).

After the Aga Khan’s Tamayuz filly overcame signs of inexperience in a slowly run affair, her trainer Michael Halford made the point: “It’s not like one of ours to start that price first time out and that was maybe a lack of others fancied.

“She has a lovely pedigree and will make a nice middle-distance filly.”