Michael Halford's night continued to get better as Paddy The Celeb made it a treble for the Kildare handler in the apprentice handicap at Dundalk.

Marc Monaghan gave the well backed gelding (8/1 in morning into 4/1) a strong drive to land the spoils in the mile-and-a-half event.

He soon tracked leader Crusoe's Return before hitting the front with two furlongs to run.

Paul McMahon's charge kept on gamely, as he was strongly pressed by Shake The Bucket inside the final furlong, to record a neck success.

The winner had been slightly unlucky in running when fourth in the amateur derby at the Curragh on his last start.

"He did well to win from the wide draw (13) and Marc did a good job to creep into position," said Halford.

"He's very game and we'll keep him going. He jumps like a buck as well." Parramatta was sent off 5/2 favourite (from 2/1) but couldn't strike a blow in seventh after finding trouble in running in the straight.

It was the third different winning rider tonight as Conor Hoban had scored on Russian Soul and Shane Foley had been aboard Red Laser The treble worked out at 209/1.

(On course reporting by Alan Magee)