Old Peculier stayed on stoutly in the closing stages to land the spoils in the opening apprentice handicap over a mile-and-a-half at Dundalk this afternoon.

The Mark Fahey-trained gelding came to claim front-runner Storm Eric at the furlong pole and kept on well to the line for Jack Kearney.

He posted a length-and-a-half success over the other 3/1 joint-favourite Palace Rock

It was a follow up win for the Aclaim gelding, who had scored over the extended ten furlongs at the track last month.

Fahey said: "Blinkers have worked for him - that's twice after running him in blinkers. We always thought a bit of him and the blinkers have worked on him.

"Jack gave him a brilliant ride.

"He's in again on Tuesday over a mile and we'll see. We are tempted, but he'll tell us. We'll see how he is over the next couple of days.

"He's improving with his racing and is putting it all together.

"I'd say he will make a nice hurdler over the summer as well too. He might get a bit of a break after Dundalk and come back over hurdles.

"He definitely wants a bit of good ground.

"He's nice to have and I wouldn't mind a few more of them!"

(Quotes by Michael Graham)