Comeback kid Solid Air went in many notebooks with an uplifting triumph in the Niall Clarke Oils Maiden at Dundalk

Eddie Lynam's four-year-old (7-2) sustained a season-ending hip injury last April but looked a picture of health at the County Lough venue.

The grey son of Linamix, an eyecatching fifth over course and distance on his seasonal debut, effortlessly assumed control under Declan McDonogh and had three lengths in hand of Royal Entourage at the line.

Lynam said: "He won well and he may go for another handicap."< Lime Tree Valley made starting odds of 14-1 look monumentally foolish when running away with the Rogers Construction Handicap.

Colm O'Donoghue's mount built up a commanding advantage nearing the one-furlong marker and had far too much pace for the staying-on Ashka

Lime Tree Valley was making his first outing for 178 days, having finished well down the field on his last outing over a mile at the Curragh.

Winning trainer David Marnane said: "This horse is going to go hurdling in May and is a really nice horse."

Pat Smullen was at his canniest best when guiding Dreams Forever home in the Bar One Racing Median Auction Maiden.

While the Dermot Weld-trained three-year-old was entitled to win this seven-furlong heat, the 7-4 favourite's cause was helped considerably by another textbook performance from the champion jockey.

Smullen ensured his mount was ideally placed as soon as the traps opened and maintained a smooth gallop near to the far rail.

The race was essentially over as a contest once the field straightened for home as Dreams Forever pulled clear to score tidily from 20-1 outsider Curling Bird < Tellelle (10-1) also looks a horse with a bright future after her impressive success in the Dev Oil & Skips R Us Handicap.

Trainer Liam McAteer said: "She ran a good race behind Dermot Weld's filly (Ma Ani) last time but she just got a bit tired so we decided to drop her a furlong in trip."

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