The gamble was landed in the second at Dundalk as Our Manekineko took the mile handicap under a strong ride from Pat Smullen.

James Nash 's charge settled behind the leaders but had to wait for a gap in the straight, getting a run over a furlong out.

The 11/10 favourite (5/2 this morning) chased down Conversational inside the final furlong, getting on top in the closing stages for a three-parts-of-a-length victory.

The Kyllachy gelding had chased home Seussical over course and distance last month.

“I'm fed up of looking at that cold list. Seven out of the last ten I've ran have been placed,” said Nash, who was saddling his first winner since last October.

“I thought he made hard work of it but Pat said he probably wants to go a bit further. It's a long way up the straight in that wind.

“I own him with a few lads from London and Our Manekineko means our piggybank in Japanese – hopefully that's what he is.”

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)