< Suehail and Exhortation paid a compliment to Classic hopeful Akeed Mofeed when they fought out the finish of thetote.com Median Auction Maiden at Dundalk.

The pair were last sighted in September when they finished fifth and third respectively in what looked a decent Leopardstown contest won by John Oxx's Guineas and Derby hope, who went on to finish second in the Beresford.

The favourite Exhortation looked to have made a decisive move when taking it up in the final quarter-mile this time, but Fergal Lynch had him covered on Suehail (7-1) and David Marnane's colt got up close home to score by half a length.< Gathering Power fifth in the opening juvenile race of the new turf season at the Curragh, was odds-on favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden, but could not squeeze into the first three.

Jim Bolger, who took the Curragh contest, won with Verbal Honesty (9-2), who was always up with the pace and held Angela's Dream by a head without being given a hard time by Rory Cleary.< Opa Loca and Sharalam filled the places behind subsequent Irish Lincolnshire winner Sharestan in a Curragh maiden last June and the market said they would fight out the finish of thetote.com Maiden.

The pair hit the front in the straight and it was the Paul Deegan-trained Sharalam (5-4 favourite) who proved the stronger, asserting in the final furlong under Kevin Manning to hold Sli Na Fiarana by a length.

Fran Berry has got off to a quick start on his return from injury and landed another victory when Eddie Lynam's 10-11 favourite Akasaka demolished the opposition in thetote.com Claiming Race, clearing away to score by four and three-quarter lengths.

Darren Bunyan sent out his first winner as a trainer when Grey Danube (7-1) got the better of a duel with favourite Ferryview Place to take thetote.com Handicap for three-year-olds by a length under Leigh Roche.