Pat Smullen made serious inroads into Colin Keane's lead in the jockeys' championship with a Dundalk four-timer headlined by the victory of Riyazan in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal Stakes.
Michael Halford's colt has had his limitations exposed in smart company since making a successful debut but was much more at home in this Listed contest.
The 11-4 chance had to work hard to master game front-runner Lake Volta but did so and then held the late lunge of Battle Of Jericho by half a length.
Smullen is firing on all cylinders and got Militry Decoration home in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Nursery Handicap.
The Michael O'Callaghan-trained 3-1 chance appeared set to win reasonably comfortably but Smiling Eliza threw down a big challenge and only failed by a head.
Smullen took no chances on Halford's 8-11 favourite Smugglers Creek in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Claiming Maiden, making his own running before hanging on by a neck from Delegating
The four-timer was rounded out by Hunaina (13-2), whose victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap gave Halford a treble.
Once again, Smullen put the pace to the race and his mount showed plenty of strength in the closing stages to come a length and three-quarters clear of Belle Boyd
Keane had to wait until the concluding Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap but his narrow win on Thunder Crash over the Smullen-ridden Bold Knight means he now leads 81-80.< Declarationofpeace took advantage of a drop in class to make it two from two on the all-weather in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.
Aidan O'Brien's colt ran with some credit in the Middle Park at Newmarket only six days ago and proved much too good for his rivals here, crossing the line with a length and a half in hand of Boragh Steps without Donnacha O'Brien having to get too serious on the 1-7 favourite.
Robbie Downey won divisions one and two of the Dundalk Stadium - Light Up Your Night Apprentice Handicap on Sleepy Head and Beau Satchel respectiv
