Mick Halford saddled a 32-1 double at Dundalk on Friday evening, courtesy of Hujaylea and Banna Boirche
Halford has saddled more winners at Dundalk than he has at any other course in recent seasons and he picked up where he left off last year.
Hujaylea (5-1 joint-favourite) was even leading home a one-two for the yard in the Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Handicap with stablemate Saint By Day three-quarters of a length away.
The trainer was full of praise for his winning apprentice jockey Conor Hoban.
"Conor gave him a good ride and I might have found another apprentice. He's making good progress. We didn't push him and he's starting to do things right," said Halford.
Banna Boirche (9-2 joint-favourite) turned the tables on his recent conqueror Casela Park under Shane Foley in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap.
"He's on the improve. My horses seems to be in good form and love this surface," added Halford.
"He got a good ride also - Shane did well to get out. He wants a bit of nice ground and will run on grass."
David Wachman's Hen Night won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Race in impressive style under Wayne Lordan.
Having run at the Curragh over two weeks ago, she put her fitness to good use and kicked for home early beating Jim Bolger's Gile Na Greine by three lengths.
"She loves the surface up here and quickened up really well," said Lordan.
"She appreciated the step up to a mile today and improved a good bit from her first run."
John Oxx's Lingapour got up in the dying strides to win a blanket finish for the [email protected] Maiden for Fran Berry.
"He made hard work of it but it's job done - he's won a maiden," said Berry.
Aidan O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh finally got off the mark for the season when African Cat (7-2) got up in the final stride of the Fund Raising Made Easy at Dundalk Maiden.
