Kierans doubles up with strong stayer Hannon

Derek Kierans had his colours carried to victory for the second time in half-an-hour at Dundalk as Hannon took the Find Us On Facebook @dundalkstadium Handicap. Make The Switch sported Kierans’ black and white check silks to success in the previous race, and Hannon gave him a quick double here reverting to the Flat.

The dual-purpose gelding won over hurdles at Gowran Park in October and, with a rating of 139 in that sphere, appeared reasonably treated on the level off a mark of 68.

Gary Carroll ’s mount challenged on the stands’ side and appreciated this two-mile stamina test by getting well on top in the closing stages to beat Scholastic by a length and three quarters at odds of 100/30. Tirmizi was another half a length away in third, with Hazran fading to finish fourth.

Winning trainer Tom Gibney said, "This is mostly down to his owner Derek as he mentioned this race to me a good while ago. I have to give him the credit for this.

“There aren't too many of those two mile races and he looks like he wants every yard of it so I don't know where we'll go now.”

Carroll said, “The further we were going the further I was going to win by. I was glad they went a good gallop as it played to his strengths.”

(GC & AM)