Thorne takes the opener with Never Shout Never

Never Shout Never provided rookie trainer Stephen Thorne with his third success in the opening Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

A winner on his fourth start back in August of last year, the No Nay Never four-year-old had been knocking on the door of late, filling the runner-up spot on his last two starts.

Beaten into second by the reopposing Sporting Hero over six furlongs last Friday, the Jamie Powell ridden victor managed to reverse the form this evening, dropping back to the minimum trip.

Sent off 7/2 co-favourites along with Make Clear the aforementioned pair came to the fore inside the final 150 yards, with just a head between them at the line.

Again ridden by promising apprentice Nicola Burns, Sporting Hero had to settle for second, with 22/1 outsider Mint Man a neck away in third.

"Jamie said the last day when he got off him that the six (furlongs) probably stretched him," Thorne revealed.

"Tonight, dropping back to five, the issue was the draw. We had to just bide our time and tuck in, and there was plenty of pace on paper.

"In fairness, he used his head and he tucked him in. He has ridden the horse twice for me and he gets on like a house on fire with this horse. He is a very tricky animal in the gates and, as a horse, he is quite temperamental. Highly strung - a typical sprinter.

"Hopefully, he is a horse that can progress through the winter months. We will mix it between five and six, more than likely keep him fresh for the next five. We'll see where it takes us then.

"I'm delighted he (Powell) has got a winner on the board for me. I'm going to use him plenty up here for the winter.

"There's plenty of good young lads that are well able to ride and he'll be used plenty by me during the winter. I think he is a high-class rider - champion apprentice last year and I'm sure that claim won't be long going."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Raceday Stewards informed Jack W. Davison, trainer that The Poacher Daly would have to be recertified before being declared to run from stalls again.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham