Two of racing's great characters trainer Tony Mullins and jockey Seamie Heffernan combined for a milestone success at Dundalk today as Oakley (8/1) landed the concluding Dundalk Stadium Celebrates 20 Years Handicap (div II).

In common with the trainer's Prix du Cadran winner Princess Zoe, Oakley is a German import and having failed to land a gamble on Irish debut in August, today made all for a game half-length win from Old Peculier

Regarding Oakley, Mullins reported “we let him roll in Cork and he just got caught on the line. Then we held onto him in Navan and I don't know whether the horse didn't like the ground or he didn't like being held up.

"Today showed us what we had seen in Cork as we were devastated in Navan. That was a good performance there to carry 10 stone and make all and we'll come back here with him again.”

Mullins then revealed "it may be an interesting fact but that is the fifth decade in a row that Seamie has ridden a winner for me since the 1980s."

Mullins, predominantly a jumps trainer, and Heffernan, with just seven wins over hurdles, have had an association stretching to Braida Boy's Punchestown success in 1989.

Quotes from Michael Graham