Exquisite Acclaim driven home by Caffrey

Ado McGuinness' Exquisite Acclaim rewarded plenty of support in the View Restaurant Dundalk Apprentice Handicap over seven furlongs.

From 7/2 in the morning, his price contracted to 5/4 favourite on the off.

Adam Caffrey utilised stall two to have him tracking the leader Blackcastle Storm and he readily moved to the front a quarter of a mile from home. International Lady came at him inside the final furlong but Exquisite Acclaim was driven home by a head from the 16/1 runner-up. The Bog Bank (13/2) was a two and a-half lengths away in third.

Assistant trainer Stephen Thorne said: "Adam gave him a perfect ride, the first time we have ever got a nice draw up here with the horse so the plan was to keep it simple.

"Perfect ride, sat boxseat and he was there plenty soon enough but he (Caffrey) kind of had to make his mind up for him. The horse ground it out well.

"He's very well handicapped on previous form so hopefully that will give him a bit of confidence now.

"The plan will be to crack on with the winter campaign with him. He has had good form here in the past.

"We bought him 18 months ago and things haven't quite worked out the way we had hoped when we originally purchased him. The owners have been very, very patient so I want to thank them for sticking with the horse and I'm glad he has rewarded them now and hopefully there will be another pot or two in the horse before the winter is out."