Cosy for Ceallach as Halford & Whelan double-up

Ceallach ran out a comfortable winner of the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap, completing a double for Mick Halford and Ronan Whelan.

Successful on his sixth career start here in July, the Lope De Vega gelding was beaten just a neck by stable mate Golden Twilight on his next outing.

He returned to winning ways over the course and distance last month and was widely expected to follow-up this evening, going off the even money favourite (9/4 early) .

Settled in mid-division by Whelan, the chestnut victor took closer order from the two furlong pole and soon travelled strongly on the outer.

Pushed along to lead inside the final 200 yards, the Paul Rooney owned three-year-old stretched clear in the closing stages and came home two-and-a-half lengths to the good.

.Seattle Creek (10/1) just got the better of Cursory Exam (12/1) for second, with a neck between them at the line.

"He is (thriving). I think he was the only three-year-old in the race and Ronan said it was a real strong, true run race from beginning to end," Halford said.

"He travelled well and then they were after doing plenty early on. He gets the trip well, he travelled into it lovely then.

"Ronan is riding out of his skin, he kept it lovely and smooth on him and he is riding with great confidence at the minute.

"Sometimes he just stays but tonight he quickened, but maybe it is because they went so fast.

"That's it for this year with him now, he has done well and loves the surface.

"I wouldn't be against the turf, he was a bit weak and was a very shelly horse through the year. We just took our time with him after he won his maiden, I said to Paul (Rooney) that he likes it up here and it was an opportunity to give him a bit more time.

"He'll be grand in the spring, we will just give him a break now."

Halford & Whelan were earlier successful with Kalikapour

Additional reporting by Michael Graham