THERE was a 20/1 surprise in Dundalk’s feature contest last Friday as Dream Today notched up his second win since joining Adrian McGuinness over a year ago by seeing off the improving No Speed Limit in the BetVictor Casino Handicap over six furlongs.

The Shamrock Thoroughbreds-owned winner had shaped up well on his last two visits to this track and certainly deserved to be shorter in the betting, which he showed with this effort under Cian MacRedmond. The patiently ridden six-year-old looked as though he could struggle to get a run at one point inside the last quarter of a mile but it soon opened up for him and he got on top early in the last furlong for a three-quarter-length success.

“To me he shouldn’t have been the price he was on form,” said McGuinness. “He’ll probably get a bit of a break now and come back later in the campaign. Cian gave him a great ride as there was plenty of pace on and it’s great for the lads that own him.”

Deserved success

After filling the runner-up spot on two of her three starts, a deserved success came the way of the Thomas Mitchell-owned Knocklane Lass in the first divide of the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden over seven furlongs.

The Ger Lyons-trained daughter of Profitable made much of the running for Colin Keane and the 11/10 favourite was in control over the course of the last furlong. At the line she had two lengths to spare over second favourite Honey Girl.

“That’s an important one tonight as it’s Tom Mitchell’s first winner and we’re delighted that he’s been able to come here tonight to witness it. She’s a versatile filly who goes on any ground and Colin said there that she could step up in trip too,” reflected Shane Lyons.

The other division of that maiden went to Andy Slattery senior and junior as Independent Expert (7/2) came good at the third attempt following honourable third-place efforts on her first two starts.

The daughter of Gutaifan held every chance from the turn in and found plenty for pressure over the last furlong to defeat the 16/1 chance Rose Of Malta by half a length. The winner carries the colours of the Kevin Tommy Sean Walsh Partnership.

“I was a bit concerned as it was her third run in six weeks and she’s a light filly. That will be it for the year and she goes on soft ground very well so she’ll be back in the spring provided she’s not sold in the meantime,” reported the trainer.

BUSINESS came up short on his debut for Gordon Elliott when taking fourth in a maiden at Laytown last month but an altogether better effort was in the offing from the four-year-old in the seven-furlong maiden where he won nicely.

Declan McDonogh’s mount had the odds-on A Taad Moody in trouble from well over a furlong out and Business (4/1) kept on well to come home a length and a half clear of Pocket Veto.

The winner carries the colours of Jimmy Mooney and could run again at Dundalk this winter before going jumping, reported the winning trainer.

Punters had to deal with another reversal in the BetVictor-sponsored seven-furlong nursery where Drish Melody struck at 50/1 under Joe Doyle.

This daughter of Galileo Gold had struggled to make an impression on her first few runs but it was all change here. The Donal Commins-owned and -trained winner defeated Cryptos Dream by a length and a quarter.

David Marnane has been enjoying a good time of things with his winter team over the last few weeks and he bagged another winner when Tynamite (100/30) and Donagh O’Connor bagged the seven-furlong 45-65 rated handicap.

Now a winner of five of his 53 starts, the experienced Tynamite had plenty to do early in the straight but came with a steady charge to lead deep inside the final furlong to account for Burning Lake by a length and three-parts. He could easily win again this winter if turning out in similar form.

THE card was bookended by victories for a couple of improvers and the first of these to strike was David Broad’s Turf Range in the 45-65 rated handicap over a mile and a half.

The five-year-old returned from a year off to win over this distance over a month previously and he was evidently all the better for that run as he put these rivals to the sword in style. Once asked to pick up by Wayne Lordan entering the last quarter of a mile, Turf Range (5/1) stormed clear of the field to win by five lengths. The winner is likely to be back in action here next month.

The evening concluded with another success for the well-backed Theriverrunsdeep (9/2) in the 45-75 rated six-furlong handicap.

The Seamus O’Donnell-owned and -trained five-year-old was chasing a third win in four starts here and she was produced late by Seamie Heffernan – riding his first winner of the winter season – for a two-length success over Acquiescent.

“Seamus actually has a broken leg at the moment and he’s a very hard worker, so I’m delighted to ride a winner for him again. It’ll give him a lift. This filly is strengthening up and likes the track, hopefully she can keep improving. She won well tonight,” stated Heffernan.