Company Keeping got in as first reserve in the William Hill Bet Boost Handicap at Dundalk and took full advantage under a well-judged ride by champion jockey Colin Keane.

The Tagula gelding, successful at Leopardstown in April before being claimed out of John McConnell’s yard the following month and now in the care of Paddy Downey, has filled the runner-up spot twice in recent months including over this course and distance.

Keane dropped the 5/1 chance out in rear from a very wide draw before making headway towards the far side over a furlong out.

He got serious in the closing stages and the four-year-old responded to score by half a length from Kuwait Direction with the always prominent No Speed Limit just a nose back in third.

Downey said, "That (ride) was brilliant! It wasn't kind of according to plan, but what a jockey. He (Colin Keane) took his beating with the draw and he went out the back.

"The horse has been called a lot of names by a lot of people and tonight he kept at it. He is what he is, but it is great he won.

"That's my first winner in Dundalk, so I am very happy to have one up here.

"The lads that own him, Conor McNamara and Paddy O'Brien, are lads that ride for me, so it is great to have them in on the syndicate.

"I have to thank Marshall Watson - he rang me two days ago to say 'my horse (Drummond Warrior) is after coughing'. He is just after ringing me to say 'I had a few quid on your lad!'"

Quotes by Michael Graham