Bargain buy Red Cymbal gained a first Irish win at Dundalk today as the Anthony McCann trained £1,000 purchase landed the opening Happy New Year From Dundalk Stadium Handicap under jockey Danny Sheehy.

The son of Pivotal won his second career start when trained by William Haggas in November 2017 but was subsequently unsuccessful in nine starts before selling to McCann for just £1,000 last February.

Today Red Cymbal scored a length and three parts win over Arcanears and afterwards trainer McCann later “I wasn’t really surprised as he ran well here the last day with no headgear on him. Luke McAteer got off him the last day and said put the headgear back on him and you’ll be bang there.

“He’d a good draw and broke very well which was important and Danny gave him a superb ride.

“We bought him last year and he was probably drilled before I got him. We gave him a break and he’s bounced back very well.

“He was rated 81 at one stage. He’s well down the handicap and it was all about sweetening him up and the team at home did a very good job.”

Quotes from Alan Magee