Orchid blooms for Halford

Slipper Orchid was produced with a well-timed run by Conor Hoban to land a bit of a touch in the seven-furlong handicap at Dundalk.

Mick Halford's charged had been backed from 12/1 into 5/1 this morning and was sent off a 9/2 shot on course.

Hoban held up his mount before delivering the Verglas filly with a strong run at the furlong pole.

She soon tackled Phils Wish and went on from that rival in the closing stages for a length-and-a-quarter win. Doonard Prince was sent off the 4/1 favourite and finished fourth.

The winner had some decent placed form in maidens last year but was making her first start since running at Listowel last September.

“The dam won first time out as a four-year-old at the Curragh and it's a family that seems to get better with time,” said Halford.

“Most of the family like an ease in the ground but she went on this surface better than I thought.”

The winning owner Carol Roper also bred the filly.

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)