Double for Foley as Beach gets up close home

After winning the first aboard Persian Caliph Shane Foley doubled up in division two of the Christmas Party Nights at Dundalk Handicap, as he guided Victor’s Beach home in front for his boss Mick Halford.

The three-year-old son of Footstepsinthesand won a handicap over the course last December but he failed to follow-up on five subsequent starts, the last four of which were on grass.

Back on the all-weather this evening, he opened at 8/1 this morning with Paddy Power, going from 7/1 to 6/1 on-course.

Settled in mid-division, he came under pressure in the straight behind horses, but he got a clear run from a furlong out, and he kept on best from there, just getting up to beat Cristy’s Call by a neck.

The runner-up was returned at 12/1 under Andrew Thornton for Lester Winters, while the 5/1 favourite Khelino was two lengths back in third under Joseph O’Brien for Rodger Sweeney.

Mick Halford: "He likes it around here. They went a good gallop which suited and it opened up lovely.

"He is probably better around here than he is on grass, and he carries weight well."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee