A drop in trip seems to have worked wonders for Elusive Ridge and Harry Rogers' gelding followed up last week's victory at Dundalk by notching another success on the all-weather track.
Rated 6lb higher for winning when trying seven furlongs for the first time in his career, the five-year-old (6-1) had a mile to travel this time in the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap.
Pat Smullen sat in second for most of the way and though there were plenty of challengers ready to have a go when he led two furlongs out, Elusive Ridge ran on strongly to score by three-quarters of a length.
Favourite Dickie's Lad made a valiant attempt to lead all the way in the six-furlong www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap after tacking across to the rail from the worst of the draw.
Kevin Ryan's raider was still there entering the final furlong, but could not hold the Willie Martin-trained Farmleigh House (8-1), who was driven up by Conor Hoban to grab the prize by a nose in the shadow of the post.< Sindjara (8-1) is going the right way and followed her fourth place at Leopardstown last month with a comfortable victory when stepped up to a mile for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Johnny Murtagh was always nicely placed just off the pace on John Oxx's juvenile and led approaching the final furlong before forging away from gambled-on joint-favourite Tannery to win by two and a half lengths.
Murtagh notched another when the Liam Roche-trained Billyford (13-2), off the track for three years before his return in September, showed signs of his old ability to take the [email protected] Rated Race by a length and three-quarters.
There was plenty of trouble in the closing stages of the Group Bookings At Dundalk Rated Race, but Billy Lee wasn't involved on Eddie Lynam's Westtower Boy (8-1), who struck late and held Fantasy King by a neck.
