There was a real sense of deja vu to Piper Bomb s win in the Christmas Party Packages Nursery Handicap at Dundalk this evening as the day's racing had earlier thrown up a remarkably similar profiled winner.

Trainer Ado McGuinness was completing a double with Piper Bomb's success, under jockey Donagh O'Connor, having won the earlier handicap with Rosenborg Rider who himself led home a McGuinness 1-2 in the half-hour earlier race.

Remarkably, Piper Bomb was the second horse this evening to shed his maiden status having raced each month from April through to December. Opening race winner Medal Of Honour himself began racing in April this year and also raced in each of the intervening months, before also gaining his own maiden success tonight.

Following Piper Bomb's win, McGuinness said “she's been very consistent on her last three of four runs and a little unlucky once or twice.

“We probably made a little bit too much use of her the last day and we had a nice draw tonight so I told Donagh to jump and sit behind a couple. The race panned out perfectly and he gave her a super ride. She's game and hardy.

“I trained the dam (Distant Piper) to win five races and the boys (We're Back Syndicate) bred her themselves. The dam was hardy and she's exactly like her.

“She won well at the end and I'll see what the handicapper does to her.”

Quotes from Gary Carson