Robert Whearty has impressed many with his riding since bursting onto the scene last year and the Meath apprentice has a strong book of five rides as Dundalk hosts its first fixture of 2022 this afternoon.

After gaining plenty of experience on the pony racing circuit, the teenager opened his account under rules at his local track in Bellewstown last July and has quickly moved onto the nine winner mark.

Whearty teams up with his boss Gavin Cromwell aboard both Crystal Dawn in the seven-furlong handicap (2.45) and Harbanaker in division two of the apprentice handicap (3.45).

David Dunne supplied that first winner at Bellewstown last summer with Pretty Little Liar and now gives him the leg up on Dinamine in the 4.45 — division one of the ten-furlong handicap.

The Dermot McLoughlin-trained War Hero is likely to go off favourite in the claimer (2.10), while topweight Indiana Grey is another with a solid chance in division one of the apprentice handicap (3.15).

The first on an eight-race card at Dundalk gets underway at 1.35pm.