Michael Halford's horses have hit form in recent weeks and the trainer's sales-bound Finans Bay (3/1f) today landed Dundalk's William Hill Extra Places Every Day Handicap under jockey Ronan Whelan.

Once rated 103, the Nick Hartery-owned son of Kodiac today competed from a mark of 87 and defeated Longbourn by a neck.

Halford said “I had this race in mind for him because he is going on to the Sales (October 24).

"He was badly handicapped and it was hard for him but he is after dropping down the handicap, so that was ideal for him. It is great to see him back tonight and I was delighted with his attitude.”

He added "we had a lot of horses we had to get handicapped and then we had some nice, backward two-year-olds. The ground was firm during the summer and that didn't work for us.

"Our owners thankfully had the patience to sit it out and the horses are in good health and running well."

Quotes from Michael Graham