Satono Chevalier regained the winning thread when finishing strongly on the favoured stand side to land the featured Unitek Handicap at Dundalk this evening.

The Richard O’Brien-trained gelding took an 18lb hike in the ratings after winning twice here early last year and has been placed a couple of times since returning this winter.

The 9/1 shot was switched right a furlong and a half out and kept on well under Shane Foley inside the final 100 yards to beat Star Harbour by half-a-length. Palace Rock finished three quarters of a length further back in third.

Foley said, "Beforehand, going down, he was a lot more relaxed and chilled out. He really relaxed today. He was a little bit fresh the last time I rode him (on his penultimate start), but Richard said he had a couple of niggly issues and he hadn't him at 100 per cent, and he ran well and finished third.

"He said he had him tonight and back to as good as he was, he was right.

"I'd like to see him on the grass - I think a nice bit of good ground in the middle of the summer and he gets 1m4f well.

"Lingfield probably wouldn't have been the ideal track for him (last Easter).

"Richard shows that when he gets the horses he can produce them."

Quotes by Michael Graham