The Johnny Murtagh trained Hardstone gained an overdue first win at Dundalk this evening when landing the Dundalk Stadium Racecourse Of The Year Handicap under jockey Niall McCullagh.

Coming into the today's race, the son of Birdstone's form figures read '333422' but finally gained a win when making all for a length win over Gold Focus

Afterwards this year's Ebor Handicap winning trainer stated “he deserved that as he's been progressing all the time and the step up to a mile-and-a-half helped.

“He might make a nice staying type as he's improving all the time. Niall (McCullagh) said he wasn't doing much in front but when they came to him he stayed on well to the line.

“He's a nice type of horse and we'll put him away now. He could be one for the Ebor next year!”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson