Samollie ran out a game winner of the first division of the seven furlong handicap at Dundalk.

Seamie Heffernan 's mount travelled well in the race before hitting the front a furlong-and-a-half from home.

He was strongly pressed inside the final furlong and just held the late charge of Pierre D'Or at the line for a head success.

The winner had been well beaten on his last two starts but the market suggested he was expected to do better today.

Garvan Donnelly's charge was backed this morning from 6/1 into 11/4 and was sent off 7/2 favourite on course.

He had been withdrawn here on Wednesday when getting under the stalls and Donnelly said:-

“That's two days late! I thought I really had him right for the other night but he was in the stalls for a long time. That's out of character for him and we wouldn't have been as confident tonight.

“He's tough. Seamie stuck by him and it came up trumps. Seven is as short as he wants and he'll step up to a mile at least.”

Samollie was the fifth straight winning favourite on the card.

(Additional reporting by Michael Graham)