DUN Na Sead blitzed her rivals from the gates for an all-the-way success in the Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Pat Smullen Mercury Stakes over five furlongs at Dundalk last Friday night.

The 25/1 shot made all under Oisin McSweeney and outgunned French raider Bouttemont by two and a quarter lengths to land this good pot.

This was Dun Na Sead’s first start for Danny Murphy who recently took out his licence in Ireland having saddled more than 1,000 winners worldwide in a career that saw him spend 27 years in Asia.

Murphy said: “The mares sometimes can really come on as they get older. The guys (Kildare Racing Syndicate) wanted to cover her from four to five and I said please don’t do that because this mare could be a group animal next year. I will talk to them, but definitely (stay in training).

“I said to Oisin, because I’ve trained abroad for so long, ‘if you can do 12 seconds for the first furlong, they won’t beat you’. I knew the way she jumped out, we had it.”

Ado McGuinness’ Exquisite Acclaim rewarded plenty of support in the View Restaurant At Dundalk Apprentice Handicap over seven furlongs for Thomas J O’Connor, McGuinness and Shamrock Thoroughbreds.

From 7/2 in the morning, his price contracted to 5/4 favourite on the off. Adam Caffrey utilised stall two to have him tracking the leader Blackcastle Storm and he readily moved to the front a quarter of a mile from home. International Lady came at him inside the final furlong, but Exquisite Acclaim was driven home by a head.

Assistant trainer Stephen Thorne said: “Perfect ride, sat box seat and he was there plenty soon enough, but he kind of had to make his mind up for him. The horse ground it out well.”

GER Lyons and Colin Keane enjoyed a good evening’s work as they landed both divisions of the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden through Soldier’s Empire and Keeper’s Heart.

Soldier’s Empire was all the rage with punters as his price contracted from 2/1 to 11/10 favourite and he was never far from the pace. Keane rode him to the front a furlong from home and the pair stayed on to come in by half a length for Ballygallon Stud (Ireland) Limited.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “He fought back right to the line and he’ll really enjoy himself now when he gets a little bit of a break, he’ll really mature over the winter.”

Keeper’s Heart overcame a tricky draw in stall 14 to justify favouritism in division two for David Spratt, Sean Jones and Lynne Lyons.

Keane soon had him racing prominently and the Saxon Warrior colt travelled well to lead entering the straight. Cuban Confusion looked threatening inside the final furlong, however, Keeper’s Heart (4/7 favourite) went on by a length and a half.

Lyons said: “He was there to be shot at turning into the straight, green and all as we thought he would be. His class came to the fore and he stuck it out well.”

Cian Collins’s Chica Power (12/1) was another horse to make all in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Fillies Claiming Race over seven furlongs.

Billy Lee drove the Slade Power mare home by a length and three quarters for the Zoom Buddies Syndicate.

Lee said: “She likes her own bit of space up front, she jumped lovely and I was able to dictate away. She was just enjoying herself in front.

“I got to the turn in and nothing had taken me on, I was just able to go for her but not go for everything and, when Ger Lyons’ (Dumb Love) came to me, she was able to find a bit more in the last 150/100 yards.”

Fourth-placed Iva Batt was claimed by Keith Watson while fifth-placed One Boss was claimed by R G O’Toole to be trained by Jessica Harrington.

EMPRESS Of Bough (33/1) led home Lockdown (16/1) to give Anthony McCann a big-priced one-two in the Gateway Hotel Dundalk Race & Stay Handicap.

Empress Of Bough got to grips with Lockdown inside the final furlong and stayed on best to fend him off by a head for owner Thomas Cochrane.

Winning jockey Rory Cleary said: “She ran a very good race the last day when Shane (Markey) rode her. She was slowly away and still ran on home well and finished sixth.

“Her form on the all-weather has been good, so she could be a nice fun filly for the winter up here.”

Scorchio rolled home off a past pace in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Book Now Nursery Handicap over five furlongs.

The 6/1 chance tracked the leaders and was worked to the front inside the final furlong by Wesley Joyce before hitting the line half a length to the good.

Trainer Jack Davison said: “Myself and my father leased her to a syndicate (Final Reminder Syndicate). She is obviously well-related and I have her full little brother as well.

“That was the first thing Wesley said - they went a million miles per hour - and he took back and he just let them go.”

Elegant Man created a good impression when powering home by two and a half lengths in the concluding Floodlit Fridays At Dundalk Maiden over an extended 10 furlongs for Adrian Murray and AMO Racing Limited.

He was well supported down to 5/2 on debut and stayed on strongly in the final furlong for jockey Mikey Sheehy who said: “I travelled well and I was eager to come to the stands’ side rail and, once I got him over onto it, he kept quickening and quickening up to the line.”