“Tough and willing” Dr Patrick (9/4jf) continued the good recent run of his breeder/owner/trainer Luke Comer at Dundalk, winning this evening's concluding Kathleen Pierce Memorial Handicap (div II) under jockey Chris Hayes.

The son of Excelebration was 11/10 favourite when beaten a neck by 14/1 stablemate at the track in November and today scored by a head from Arctic Blaze

Comer's runners have mushroomed in recent times, registering four winners in November, and following today's win, his assistant Jim Gorman said “he's had three hard races and he's very tough.

“Wayne (Lordan) and Chris have both come back in and said he'll get a 1m4f so we have options with him.

“He'll stay here for the winter and hopefully he can keep winning races. It's a big asset when a horse is that tough and willing.”

Quotes from Gary Carson