You could have thrown a blanket over the first three in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery at Dundalk, with All Ablaze emerging a gutsy winner.

Always to the for under Rory Cleary, the 16-1 chance just managed to fend off the attentions of Almanack by a short-head, with a similar distance back to Wexford Opera in third.< Fighter Squadron looked a smart sort on his debut when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Wayne Lordan was always showing the right signs on the 12-1 chance and after hitting the front over a furlong out, he kept on well to beat Abbey Vale by three-quarters of a length.< Made In Design showed plenty of tenacity in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden.

Odds-on favourite Scrapper Blackwell led for much of the contest, but Paul Hickey's 4-1 chance responded well to Kevin Manning's urgings to get on top in the final furlong and score by a length.

Pat Smullen was back among the winners when riding Pat Flynn's Al Mancilia to victory in the first division of the Christmas Party Nights at Dundalk Handicap.

The 7-1 chance responded to all of Smullen's urgings to push him two clear in the jockeys' title race, beating Elusive Express by half a length.

The second division saw 6-1 chance Red Laser strike for trainer Michael Halford.

Shane Foley took his opprtunity to go for home early on the straight, and though favourite The Reek was closing in the final furlong, Red Laser had already flown and won by a length and three-quarters.

Halford notched a quick double when taking the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Handicap with Russian Soul

The 5-1 chance streaked away in the final two furlongs and though Captain Joy came out of the pack to give chase, he was still a length and a half away at the line.