Arif and Conor Hoban beat Song Of Love© Photo Healy Racing
Conor Hoban rode out his claim when Arif stepped up on his promising debut to land the Elusive Pimpernel Maiden at Dundalk in the colours of the Aga Khan.
The Mick Halford-trained son of Nayef went into many notebooks as a sure-fire future winner after making late progress once he found his stride to take second on the all-weather track last month, and he was sent off the 4-5 favourite.
Hoban seemed to have plenty under him when he coasted up to the lead heading towards the final furlong, but he had to apply the pressure in the end to withstand the determined challenge of Song Of Love winning by just a neck.
Johnny Levins has begun the year in good form and his improving sprinter Your Pal Tal followed up last week's victory on the track by taking the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Handicap off a 7lb higher mark.
Never far off the pace in the hands of 7lb claimer Donagh O'Connor, the five-year-old (5-4 favourite) attacked inside the final quarter-mile and readily asserted to beat Almadaa by a length and a quarter.< Showcard (2-1 favourite), who ran at Royal Ascot last season, returned to winning form in more modest surroundings now with Johnny Feane when leading from the off under Gary Carroll to take the Dundalk Stadium Handicap by three-quarters of a length.< Fastidious s second to Captain Joy last month looked good after the winner followed up at Lingfield and Michael O'Callaghan's 7-2 shot, back at seven furlongs for the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap, led all the way under Gearoid Brouder, holding Wishyouwerehere by a neck.
Dylan Hogan drove Derek Barry's veteran Well Insured (7-1) ahead deep inside the final furlong to take the Follow Dundalk On Facebook Handicap by three-quarters of a length, with the gambled-on That's Ours coming from a long way back to finish third.
Colin Keane quickly got to the front on Thirteen Diamonds in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Maiden and Ger Lyons' 7-1 chance, stepped up to 10 furlongs for the first time, cleared away to win readily by three
