Much of the pre-race attention focused on the well-backed market leaders, Doc Holliday (3rd) and Aye Aye Skipper (4th), but they had to settle for minor money behind Johnny Murtagh and Ross Coakley's Yulong Baozuo in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Apprentice Handicap at Dundalk.

A three-year-old daughter of Lord Shanakill, Yulong Baozuo was a 16/1 shot but that proved no barrier to her coming through from the rear of mid-division to launch her bid.

She had to be switched to get a run and eventually got up close home to touch off Skerray Rules by a neck.

Murtagh said: "She's in the sales at Goffs. She is improving all the time and it's great to get a win with her.

"The last day she handled the track but didn't have the clearest run. She had a clear run tonight and Ross said she won nicely.

"It's my first winner for the owner (Zhang Yuesheng)."

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Big Tony at the request of trainer, Georgios Pakidis, and reported that the horse sustained a cut in running.

(MG & EM)