Trainer John Joe Walsh registered his first winner at the all-weather track at Dundalk this evening when his Longfield Lad (7/1) made all to foil a gamble on runner-up Moss Top (7/2f) in the opening Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Package Nursery Handicap.

Ridden by Ben Curtis, the gelding kept on well under pressure inside the final furlong to hold the strong challenge of Moss Top (best priced at 7/1 in the morning and raced in second throughout) by a head.

Afterwards Walsh quipped “when you come this far you'd nearly want to win!

“Longfield Lad ran green here the last night and also had a bad draw but he had a good draw tonight and got a great ride from Ben. We'll have to see now if we come back here again or give him a break over the winter.”

Further reporting by Alan Magee