Elzaam Blue repelled the late challenge of Bowerman to record a gutsy victory in the finale at Dundalk this afternoon.

The Darren Bunyan-trained gelding had won his first two races here last spring and was getting back into the winners' enclosure for the first time since.

Dean Curran was to the fore throughout on the 4/1 shot and asked his mount to go and win his race over a furlong from home.

The five-year-old responded gamely and had enough up his sleeve late on to hold on by a neck.

Bunyan said: "He is a horse that has been out of luck in plenty of his runs. Things haven't gone his way, but you can't keep making excuses for them either. He has let us down a couple of times as well.

"I do believe there is plenty to come with him too. He is a lad that has had plenty of runs but he's only really learning to run at the moment.

"It was the plan (to dictate), we said we would jump and let him make his own pace and don't disappoint him.

"Dean is a very valuable member of the team at home as well. It is great to get him a winner there. He deserves it because he's a great kid. Any winner is welcome for me.

"We'll see how he comes out of this, whether we come back here or freshen him up for the grass."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)