Review dundalk 9th Dec

Local trainer Harry Rogers celebrated a Dundalk double as Elusive Ridge and Lily's Star took the spoils in differing circumstances.

Elusive Ridge had never run over a trip as short as seven furlongs in his previous 27 races, but seemed to appreciate the drop down when winning the Group Discounts At Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Handicap.

Joseph O'Brien quickly tacked across to the rail on the 9-2 shot and was never far away before leading into the straight and comfortably holding favourite Tarrsille by a length.

The tactics were different on well-backed 4-1 favourite Lily's Star, who had plenty to do at the quarter-mile pole in the first division of the [email protected] Handicap.

'Slippers' Madden couldn't find a gap up the rail, but once switched outside the filly produced a change of gear and nailed Cool Athlete in the shadow of the post by a short head.

The second division went to the Michael Byrne-trained Knockgraffon Lad (4-1 favourite), who was following up a victory at the track a week earlier.

Claimer Colin Keane, completing a double, was trapped on the rail coming up the straight but waited patiently and shot through a gap to score by an emphatic two lengths.

Keane had earlier won on Mountain Coral who scored for the first time since rattling up a four-timer in the summer of 2009 in the Christmas Parties At Dundalk Handicap.

Frank Oakes' seven-year-old (6-1), who has slid down the ratings, took advantage of a split on the inside a furlong out and forged clear to beat Farmleigh House by three-quarters of a length.< Ferryview Place edged ahead in the closing stages of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, but had no answer to the late charge of Tracey Collins' Beat The Ballot (10-1), who won by three-quarters of a length under Shane Foley.