Champion jockey Colin Keane opened his account for 2024 as Dreams Fled Away justified favouritism in the concluding Find Us On Facebook @dundalkstadium Handicap.

The Elzaam gelding, owned and bred by Tyrone Molloy, got off the mark also over 1m4f here last month and was following up off a 7lb higher mark.

The Shane Crawley-trained 13/8 favourite was produced through a gap over a furlong out by Keane, who kept the five-year-old up to his work to get the better of Wishes And Dreams by a neck. Hi Sur Multi was two and a quarter lengths back in third.

Crawley said, "It is great to get Colin, he's a local man too. He was very strong on him in the finish, he takes a bit of that the horse.

"Isn't it amazing what a win does to a horse? It boosts their confidence and, even at home, he has a pep in his step.

"I don't know how far the horse will take us. I think he will jump a hurdle in time too, we schooled him at home and he is able to jump.

"He'll tell us (about coming back here) and then the turf will be opening up. He obviously wants nice ground. We have a few options."

Quotes by Michael Graham