A blow Struck for Star in 1st handicap

A mechanical fault led to the finale, the second division of the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Handicap, being started 'jumps-style.' Regardless of that, anything else in the field would have had an ask to upstage the stylish victor, Starstruck

A handicap first-timer, the Galileo filly wasn't one of the 'lively-ones' in the market but she belied any apparent lack of confidence to slam Silverlord by three and three parts of a length.

Pat Smullen rode Starstruck for Dermot Weld and his mother, owner/breeder, Gita.

Smullen said: "It's great for a very well bred filly to get a bracket. She settled well today as she had been doing a bit too much before.

"She stuck at it well and the trip helped." Fairylike (7s this morning into 3/1) and Alghanem (10s into 5s) were the two big ones for money here but they had to settle for fifth and sixth respectively.

Smullen is now six behind Joseph O'Brien in the race to be champion jockey for 2012. He finishes up after Leopardstown tomorrow.

The season ends at Leopardstown on Sunday, November 4th. (AM & EM)