Aladdins & O'Brien just do enough

Aladdins Cave has been a good servant to his owners the Treasure Hunters Syndicate and trainer Colm Murphy in recent times and he gained another victory in the Dunshaughlin Handicap under Joseph O'Brien at Fairyhouse.

The 5/1 shot led about a furlong out but he idled when clear, O'Brien eased up on the six-year-old close home and in truth he was very lucky to hold-off the fast-finishing Saajidah by a short head. Celtic Soprano was only half a length back in third.

A relieved Murphy said: "At least the handicapper can't give him too much for that. He hasn't stopped improving and I didn't think the ground would be a problem as he has gone on winter ground before.

"The plan was to go hurdling but that could be shelved now. Hopefully there's another little flat race in him. He pulls himself up in front and he was probably getting to the end of his tether. He being that bit older probably helped on that ground against the younger horses."

The Treasure Hunters Syndicate are from Enniskillen.