Conor Hoban earned praise from Pat Martin and it was easy to see why as the County Mayo native moved to the head of the jockey's table for the winter series at Dundalk. He guided Martin's Knock Stars to victory in the Romancing, Dining & Racing At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

Now with thirteen winners under his belt for the campaign on the polytrack, Hoban brought the now six time winner (three of those on the polytrack) Knock Stars from off the pace in this six furlong contest.

The daughter of Soviet Star had missed the break but she got a clear passage on the inner from two furlongs out, eventually leading close home for a half a length verdict over the market-leader Antiquus

Pat Martin summed things up as follows: "Conor gave her a great ride. He does a lot of work before races and figures things out really well.

"This mare has been knocking on the door and it just hadn't happened. She's been running over five and six. They went really quick tonight and she settled well.

"With some horses it just takes a while for the penny to drop and she's a bit like that.

"She'll come back here in a few weeks time." (AM & EM)