The Conor O’Dwyer trained King Malik denied Noel Meade a four-timer at Fairyhouse today when winning the concluding Check Special Offers For Winter Festival Bumper.

Ridden by Mikey Fogarty, King Malik, a son of Presenting, shook off the challenge of third placed Realt Den Chathair inside the final furlong but was made work much harder to eventually deny Meade’s Mickelson by half a length.

O’Dwyer later stated “King Malik ran a blinder here the last day but I shouldn’t have run him at Limerick prior to that as the ground was too soft.

“We might put him away now or else he could have another run over hurdles, it will depend on the ground. He’ll be a smashing horse for next summer, is very tough and has a heart of gold.”

There was a sting in the tail for winning jockey Fogarty who was later suspended by the Stewards for seven days for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Thomas Weekes