Chris Hayes had a double at the first meeting of the year at Dundalk on Friday evening and continued his good form by making all on 3/1 favourite Stay With Me in the opening Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap (Div I).

The 7-year-old mare by Cape Cross, a half-sister to three winners, was getting off the mark and rewarding connections’ patience as she had missed a couple of seasons before returning to action in 2020, and she was touched off at this track in November.

She was chased throughout by Wave Walker (14/1, and supported at bigger prices this morning) but Hayes’ mount found enough under pressure to score by three quarters of a length, with Lady of Luxury (13/2) a further half a length away in third.

Winning trainer Darren Bunyan commented: “I’m delighted to get a win with that mare and she’s a lovely, big genuine type.

“The jumping boys will love her and she’s made for that game. She jumps a hurdle very well.

“She gives you everything she has. She was only caught on the last bob of the head here two runs ago and the last day everything that could have gone against her did go against her and she was still only beaten two lengths in the finish.

“It’s great to start off the year with a winner.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee