El C Wells provided Rathmoylan trainer Thomas Gray with a first success when just coming out on top in division two of the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

The County Meath handler has been training small numbers on and off for nearly two decades and finally gained the breakthrough with the four-year-old filly, who won over the course and distance for Pat Martin earlier this year and was having her first run here for Gray.

The easy-to-back 10/1 chance travelled well to challenge in the straight but needed a strong drive by Robbie Colgan inside the final furlong to get the better of Early Strike by a head. Chateau Musar was just half a length back in third.

Gray, who was having his first runner in five years, said: "I just decided to get back into it. We have a couple pre-training, a couple of mares in foal and El C Wells.

"We needed something for the yard, we are going around with long pockets! We did fancy her tonight.

"She has a lot of kinks and she might not come out of the stable if she doesn't want to. She might not come into the parade ring or walk around it.

"I haven't been doing too much (since 2017) and just thought I would take it out again. I'm in Rathmolyan in Meath.

"That's my first winner and I had the licence from 2003 or 2004 and it is great to do it. You are never too late, are you?"

Quotes by Michael Graham