Ecclesiastical swooped on the outer to claim the opening sprint handicap at Dundalk for Colin Keane and Tom McCourt.

The chestnut had been runner-up on his last visit to the track and went one better today to record a second career success.

Keane produced the 9/2 shot to challenge over a furlong from home and he got his head in front inside the final furlong,

Despite drifting left in the closing stages he had enough in hand to hold Hodd's Girl by a neck at the line.

Keane said afterwards:- “I won a maiden on him at Navan last year. He was due to run up here before the grass last year and it took him a bit longer than we thought it would to win his maiden.

“He’d a good run up here the last day. A quick five where they go hard suits and he comes home well.

“With a bit of luck they’ll have fun with him throughout the summer as he seems to be versatile ground wise.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)