Hatch Hall shed his maiden tag at the sixteenth time of asking on October 18th, and Karl Thornton's charge really has the hang of things now as he made it three-in-a-row by landing the first split of the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap at Dundalk.

Colin Keane was aboard the Sleeping Indian gelding when he triumphed over the course and distance twenty three days back, and the very talented local rider was again in the plate tonight.

The Thornton runner displayed his toughness and courage to come out on top in a four way drive for the line, accounting for Havelock Ellis Sea Of Blue and Our Rachael by half a length, a head and half a length.

"He seemed to do that a lot easier today. He's warmed to the surface and the experience of the run the last day seemed to bring him on," reflected Thornton.

"That was good from a bad draw. He'll come back here in two weeks time for another 47 to 65.

"There's a novice hurdle at Musselburgh on December 7th and he'll get an entry in it and if he got a bit of good ground he might go to Leopardstown.

"He has all summer to go jumping though and he'd jump a fence as well."

(GC & EM)