Whatever records seventh career success

Top-weight Whatever It Takes recorded his seventh career success as he ran out a comfortable winner of division one of the Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Handicap.

Wearing a visor for the first time the son of High Chaparral was sent off the 9/2 joint-favourite having finished second and third on his last two starts.

Settled behind the leaders in fourth the Niall Madden trained gelding was pushed along and improved into third as they approached the straight.

He hit the front on the outer just inside the two furlong pole and he soon drifted left towards the rail.

Once on the rail he kept on strongly and went on to score by four and a half lengths under Fran Berry in the colours of JP McManus. Scenic Star (6/1), who was prominent throughout, finished second under Gary Phillips for Gavin Cromwell while the other joint-favourite Mallory Heights was a further half a length back in third under Shane Foley for Garvan Donnelly.

Niall Madden said afterwards: "That's great. I gave him a good chance as he ran a cracker the last day in Wexford. It's great to get a winner for JP."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson