Distant Vista got off the mark on handicap debut in the opening division of the Christmas Party Packages At Dundalk Nursery at Dundalk today as the Johnny Murtagh trained winner scored for owner/breeder Michael Ryan and jockey Colin Keane.

The gelded son of Footstepsinthesand was prominent throughout the seven furlongs trip and eventually quickened clear of his 13 rivals to beat runner-up Eglish by two and three parts of a length.

The winner carries the same colours as owner Ryan's prolific three-time Aintree Hurdle winner Al Eile and afterwards Murtagh stated “Michael Ryan and his team are delighted, they bred him, and I'm delighted to train a winner for them.

“The visor seemed to help him and Shane Kelly was happy with him the last time he rode him and said he handled the surface really well.

“We put the visors on him during the week and it seemed to put a bit of life into him.

“He's a horse that we liked all along and I'm glad he's got his head in front now.

“He's coming along all the time. Colin said he's still a bit lazy in behind but when he got into daylight and he gave him a backhander, with the visor, he quickened up well.

“I hope we can find another race for him here as I think he's a horse that wants the fast surface.”

Quotes from Gary Carson