Joanna Morgan's Moran Gra came out on top in a thrilling finish to the Hibernia Steel Ltd. Race at Dundalk.
What looked a tight race on paper turned out to be just that on the track, with three horses locked together in front appraoching the final half a furlong.< Banna Boirche did everything in his power to get on top, but Moran Gra proved just a head too strong under Ronan Whelan, with Vivacious Vivienne close-up in third.< Precious Dream (5-2) showed some decent form in two starts as a juvenile and scored nicely on her return to action in the Red Mills Maiden.< Kanes Pass tacked across to the front from a wide draw and tried to see off all challengers, but David Wachman's filly swept past a furlong from home and kept on well under Wayne Lordan to beat Dimitar by two lengths.
It was a red-letter day for Birr trainer Philip Byrne, as he secured his first ever winner when Charismas Birthday fended off all challengers to land the Harp Lager Social Club Handicap.
Quickly to the fore under Leigh Roche, the 8-1 chance saw off his fellow prominent runners at the furlong pole and though Naoise came home strongly close home, Charismas Birthday held on by a length.
Ger Lyons' Joe Eile ran out a comfortable winner of the Matthews.ie Handicap.
Always prominent under Niall McCullagh, the 10-3 chance took up the running over 1f out and soon put the race to bed, coming home a length and a half clear of Elwazeer < Shake The Bucket secured a hat-trick of Dundalk successes when finishing strongly under Megan Carberry in the Cargotec Ireland Apprentice Handicap.< Shisha Threesixty nosed in front at the furlong pole and looked likely to give Lyons a double, but Niall Madden's 9-2 chance flew down the outside to score by a neck.
