Duff certainly doesn't owe connections anything and the eight-year-old, despite operating well-below his best, gave Eddie Lynam and his owners, Kilboy Estate, more reason for joy by landing the Ireland's Call Race, the opener at Dundalk under Declan McDonogh.
Victorious for the ninth time in his life and for the third time on all-weather following success at Lingfield and Kempton, Duff was ready and waiting with his challenge from over a furlong and once he got a gap inside the last he went on to beat another old warrior, Six Of Hearts, by half a length. Well-backed favourite Dandy Boy was keen and he eventually had to settle for tenth place.
Duff is still rated 98 and of course his highlights have come at Group level in the Dfs Park Stakes at Doncaster in September 2009 (Group 2), the Concorde Stakes at Tipperary in October 2009 (Group 3) and in the Ballycorus Stakes (Group 3) at Leopardstown in June 2009.
A delighted Eddie Lynam said: "It is great to see him win again. He hadn't won in 2 years as age has caught up on him like the rest of us.
"He's hit the crossbar a few times. We're delighted to get the win as he is the most popular horse we've ever had.
"He is still able to shake a leg a bit and that was a fair race there.
"He loved the trouble in running and he knew where the winning post was.
"Last time at Doncaster (27 days back) he got hurt. We gave him four easy weeks and brought him back for this."
Of course Lynam was following on from a Navan double achieved with Balmont Mast & Quote Of The Day on Wednesday.
