What a night for Lynch as he doubles up

His stable companion Harry Trotter only had six tries before tonight to shed his maiden tag which he achieved in the opener but Almadaa had twenty six previous goes before this Friday 13th contest. However with Fergal Lynch obviously buzzing after getting back in the winning vein on Harry Trotter, the confidence went down the reins to Almadaa too, as he got home by two and a quarter lengths from Bank On Blank in the first split of the Group Discounts At Dundalk Handicap.

Lynch said: "It's like waiting for a bus, one never seems to come and then two come along together.

"I'd like to thank all the trainers that have given me such great support and that support has come from members of the public too.

"I'm riding on a Spanish licence and I've been mainly riding there and in France for Eoghan O'Neill. I've also ridden in Germany and here of course.

"I'd like to ride again in England and put closure to the whole thing.

"I would certainly consider riding here full-time too – the prize-money is excellent.

"Tonight's winners are dedicated to my mother Margaret who is not feeling too well at the moment."

Meanwhile David Marnane was also completing a brace as he trains both Harry Trotter and Almadaa and he said: "The horses are running well both here and in Dubai.

"It's nice to start the year well as we had just short of thirty seconds last year.

"Fergal gave that fellow a great ride – he's a very good rider and he deserves plenty of chances."

The Racing Post carried the following report last May - Fergal Lynch rode his first winner in Europe since August 2008 in Spain.

The former champion apprentice moved to Spain this year and was granted permission to ride from his base in Mijas, near Malaga, despite the BHA's refusal in March on the grounds that he was not a 'fit and proper' person to ride in Britain.

On his fifth ride, the 33-year-old landed a Spanish Oaks trial on Manivela in Madrid.

After being cleared, along with Kieren Fallon and Darren Williams, at the 2007 Old Bailey race-fixing trial, Lynch moved to the US in 2008, but the following July his licence was withdrawn at Philadelphia Park, where he was leading rider.

The decision followed a BHA inquiry at which he confessed to stopping Bond City at Ripon in August 2004, supplying information about six of his rides and associating with the disqualified Miles Rodgers.

He subsequently agreed not to ride in the US until he had secured clearance in Britain and later paid the £50,000 fine he had accepted as part of a plea bargain with the BHA.

His only previous win in Ireland came on Monsieur Bond in the 2004 renewal of the Group 3 Gladness Stakes at the Curragh. (AM & EM)