Ahlan Bil Zain sharpened up by blinkers Ahlan Bil Zain overcame stall 12 and a wide course to land the seven furlong handicap for three-year-olds and upwards in Dundalk. Colin Keane's mount came widest of all into the home straight but travelled well into contention a furlong and a half out in first-time blinkers. He was given the office by Keane approaching the final furlong and the pair soon came to challenge Dandys Gold track-width apart. Ahlan Bil Zain edged ahead in the final 150 yards and hit the line a length and a quarter to the good. He was an easy-to-back 11/2 chance. Runner-up Dandys Gold went off at 6/1 and he was a neck in front of gambled-on Eacharn (12/1 to 7/1). Trainer Michael Halford said: “They went good and hard and I’d say the blinkers just sharpened him up a bit. It was typical of those races and it’s often a case of whoever has the luck in running on the night. “That’s his trip. It used to look like he wanted a mile but when we stepped him up I wasn’t so sure that he got it. “It was a shame to have beaten the second as my uncle (George) owns him. He’ll keep going here over the winter, and the lads that own him have had a good bit of success with us in the past.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
