Darkened scores for Kelly and Leonard

The Noel Kelly-trained Darkened covered most of his recent claiming price when getting up in the closing stages to land the Sky Bet Club Handicap at Dundalk this evening.

The dual-purpose gelding won five times for Denis Hogan and was claimed by current connections for €10,000 in January.

The 11/1 chance, who was third here earlier this month, challenged on the stand side in the straight and finished strongly under Killian Leonard to beat Anjah by a neck with Comfort Line three-quarters of a length away in third.

Keithen Kennedy was fortunate to stay aboard Together Aclaim after meeting interference over a furlong out and Snag It s rider Gavin Ryan was later handed a two days suspension for careless riding.

Leonard said, “He stays well and they went a bit slow for him the last day.

“They didn’t go a great pace again tonight and I thought I was a bit too far back in the early half of the race but he has a bit of class and it got me out of trouble.

“Once I got him rolling he kept going and he’s got the trip really well.”