ELISHPOUR may have booked his ticket for the All-Weather Championships at Lingfield on Good Friday after landing the featured www.DundalkStadium.com Handicap at this rescheduled meeting.

The eight-year-old gelding, trained by Alan Fleming for Barry Connell, has enjoyed a profitable time on the polytrack and was recording his third win this winter season.

Billy Lee made the running on the 5/2 chance, who appeared in trouble when strongly pressed by Financial Conduct in the straight but dug deep in the closing stages to prevail by a head.

“He loves it around here, and has run five times winning three and second on the other two,” said Connell. “If we get into the All-Weather Championships then that’s where he’ll go. He was off 89 today and may need to go up to the mid 90s to get into it.

“What he wants is a very strongly run race to come off the pace and we had to make our own running there today. it’s worth a shot at Lingfield as it’s a 100 grand race. He loves this surface, and could also go for the big handicap (Northumberland Plate) at Newcastle in the summer.”

DOUBLE

Lee was completing a double having also been on the mark aboard Verhoyen in the opening six-furlong maiden. The Piccolo gelding, placed six times in 10 outings as a juvenile including at listed level, was prominent throughout and battled back well inside the final furlong to beat Above Us Only Sky by a head.

“That’s a relief and it’s been overdue,” said trainer Michael Grassick of the evens favourite. “The plan was to go for a maiden at Navan in three weeks but we saw this extra race.

“He’d been working well at home with Texas Rock, and Billy said he idled in front and got a bit tired but battled well. He needs to be getting a lead off a fast pace probably over six or seven furlongs, and could go for something like the Madrid Handicap at Naas.

“That is Paul (Cullen)’s first winner in those colours and they used to belong to Albert Finney.”

Eacharn, just denied on his reappearance here last month, provided the extended Slattery family with an exciting success in the six-furlong handicap. Ridden by Ben Coen for his uncle Andy Slattery, the 9/2 shot got up in the final strides to beat Nigg Bay by a head.

Slattery’s brother Brian, whose wife Eimear O’Brien is a part-owner along with Lynne MacLennan, said “He’s a good consistent little horse and stuck it out well. He got injured at Cork and we gave him a good break after that. He’ll keep going now until he looks for a holiday.”

FACILE

Highly Approved, trained by Joseph O’Brien for Ol Stock Racing, followed up a handicap win here just three days earlier with a facile 10-length victory at odds of 8/15 under Wayne Lordan in the claimer.

Not surprisingly, considering she was available for just €10,000, there were 10 separate claims for the winner with Monasterevin-based John Keogh successful.

The daughter of Approve will now be trained by Shane Duffy, while third-placed Bonnie Baugh was claimed for €12,000 and moves from Jessica Harrington to Prunella Dobbs.

The Godolphin-owned Port Lions, demoted in the stewards’ room when first past the post here last month, ended a frustrating run by justifying 6/4 favouritism in the mile maiden.

After the Michael Halford-trained colt was produced to lead inside the final furlong for a two and a half-length verdict over Irish Minister, winning rider Pat Smullen said: “He was ridden prominently a few times and it wasn’t working so I was happy to take a lead and get a bit of cover. It was one of those rare occasions were everything worked perfectly.

“He’s worn blinkers and cheekpieces before and he definitely needs the headgear (first time visor here).”

WINTER

Fergal Birrane saddled his eighth winner of the winter season at Dundalk when the Denis Linehan-ridden Sir Danilo (5/4) edged out chief market rival Liberatio by half a length in the mile maiden for older horses for the Daniel MacAuliffe and Anoj Don Partnership.

“We’ve waited a long time for this as we bought him as a yearling and broke him at home. He was gelded last year as he was a bit coltish and is more settled now,” said the Killala trainer.

“We’ll probably stay around a mile with him now. He’s entered again here on Friday so we’ll see how he comes out of this.”

Three Majors could also be set for a quick reappearance after the well-backed 5/1 joint-favourite was produced with a timely challenge by Gavin Ryan to take the mile apprentice handicap in the colours of Rita Shah.

Trainer Anthony McCann was impressed with the young rider saying: “Kevin Manning has won on him before and gave Gavin a good prep talk before the race today. He’s a good apprentice and one to look out for.

“This horse has serious ability if he puts it in. I changed his headgear and put the visor on today but that will only work for one or two runs. You need to take a pull on him the whole time and make him think he’s getting one over on you pulling against you. He’s entered here again on Friday night and we’ll see how he is after this.”

Getgo landed a touch (20/1 in the morning and supported on track from 12/1 into 8/1) in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap, although it was a poignant victory for trainer Keith Clarke whose father passed away earlier in the day.

The winner led over a furlong out to beat Lady Argentum by a length and a half for Karl Davis and C. J. Croninand. Winning rider Shane Foley said: “I rode him here before Christmas when he was a bit unlucky but he disappointed on his next couple of runs. Keith said he had him in good form and the blinkers helped.”

Acting Stewards

F. Cahill, Ms D. Brophy, J. Hunt, F. G. Fitzsimons, L. Walsh.

Horse To Follow

TULLYALLEN (J. M. Oxx) Made a promising start for new connections on his Irish debut in the mile maiden and should be suited by a step-up in trip.