Having lost out by just a head here last week, 4/5 favourite The Mouse Doctor went a place better over a furlong further in tonight's Ladbrokes Maiden at Dundalk.

Kevin Manning soon had the Irish National Stud-bred Lord Shanakill three-year-old at the head of affairs in this mile contest with First Class Ticket

The Brendan Duke-trained gelding led two furlongs out and he stayed on well in the final furlong to comfortably beat the aforementioned First Class Ticket by a length and a quarter.

"I think he's a very nice horse and he was very professional this evening. He was a bit unlucky the last day, and I thought he should have collected," commented Duke.

"He's equally effective on the grass, and could go for something like the Britannia."

There was no alteration to the placings after a steward's enquiry.

The Stewards enquired into possible interference in the straight involving First Class Ticket (GB), ridden by K.P. Moriarty, placed second and The Mouse Doctor, ridden by K.J. Manning, placed first. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the judge's placings and took no further action.

(AM & EM)