Dougan today ticked Dundalk off the list of all-weather courses where he has won, landing the Dundalk - Light Up Your Night Handicap, under Champion Jockey jockey Pat Smullen, on the four year old’s first Irish visit.

Dougan had previously won at Kempton, Lingfield (both twice) and Wolverhampton and today completed a double for Smullen, who was earlier on the mark with Hes Our Music

Winning Welsh trainer David Evans was on hand to later report “he’s got a lot of ability and Pat said they didn’t go quick enough; he needs a fast gallop, to come off it and time it right. He’s only won by a little bit but there is a lot left in the tank.

“He’s the reason I came - my other two runners were drawn out in the carpark and they probably ran okay from their draws.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson