Whelan times it just right on Slieve Binnian

The Michael Halford and Tracey Collins trained Slieve Binnian stayed on best under Ronan Whelan to win an exciting finish to the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap at the County Louth track.

Always prominent under the Kildare born rider, Slieve Binnian looked to have a bit to do as a trio of rivals, Cold Steel Eclat De Lumiere and Cordouan went on at the furlong pole.

The second named had to weave a passage between the other pair but appeared to have done enough when getting to the front inside the last 100 yards.

However, Whelan conjured up a late burst from the Paul Rooney owned three-year-old, getting up in the final strides to win by half-a-length.

Mick Halford said: "He said that from a bad draw he did well to get a lovely position, and he gave him a great ride.

"He said he was coming into it well and he said he then got caught a little bit flat-footed because they had gone steady, and then got into a real sprint.

"It just took him a while to hit top gear. He said when he got into top gear, he stayed on well the last half furlong.

"I think there will be plenty of fun to be had with him over the winter. He loves that surface and he is a very genuine horse. He's only three.

"He's an ideal horse for Paul (Rooney, owner), he is very patient with them."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham.