Course specialist Reckless Lad moved to within one win of being joint winning-most performer at Dundalk when scoring his eighth success at the Co Louth venue this evening, landing the alska Swedish Cider Handicap for his adoring trainer Pat Martin.

The eight year old gelding has struck up an excellent relationship with jockey Killian Leonard in recent times and today scored a third win this winter, when holding off runner-up Carried by half a length.

Reckless Lad made his debut at the track in April 2013 and having notched winners at the venue in 2013 (twice),'14,'15 (twice),'17 and twice this year, is now within one win of dual nine-times course winners He's Our Music and Shake The Bucket as the winning-most Dundalk performer.

Martin later revealed "everything was in front of Killian and I thought he judged it to perfection; he felt a furlong out that Red Avenger was running all over him and that he had to go then, to have any chance.

"He switched up the inside and picked up really well for him, and battled when he had to then.

"He's been a great servant but a year ago we didn't think he would make it back. He was in Troytown (veterinary clinic) for a week and they said he might come back in six months time.

“He had 22 different things wrong with him but it was mainly his knee and Troytown were brilliant and they recommended plenty of rest. Within six weeks of being in hospital he was 100 percent sound.

“He's a very tough horse and has a great attitude to coping with pain. All through his life he was stiff but he's moving better now than he ever has before."

Quotes from Alan Magee