Settle For Red and Connor King hold off Manorov and Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
David Marnane's veteran sprinter Almadaa came out on top in a thrilling three-way finish to the feature Floodlit Friday Nights Handicap at Dundalk.
Connor King brought the eight-year-old to challenge the always prominent Strategic Heights who was seeking back-to-back victories in the five-furlong race, soon after turning into the straight, and a battle royal ensued.< Bubbly Bellini joined in from the rear late on but was never quite getting there and had to settle for third, and Almadaa (9-2) battled on gamely to beat the favourite by a short head.
Marnane and King doubled up when Settle For Red (8-1) showed plenty of guts to beat off the challengers for a front-running success in the second division of the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap, holding Manorov by half a length.
Ronan Whelan produced Gavin Cromwell's 7-4 favourite Cristy's Call late to grab the first division by three-quarters of a length, denying Joanna Morgan what would have been a popular retirement victory with runner-up Balmont Flyer
Pat Smullen got off the mark for the year with a typically well-executed front-running ride on Ted Walsh's Tomorrow Morning (12-1) in the www.dundalkstadium .com Handicap, slipping clear before holding Clutchingatstraws by a short head.< Hat Alnasar progressed from his promising debut to finish a close-up second on the all-weather track at the beginning of the month and he took another step forward with a convincing victory in the Elusive Pimpernel Median Auction Maiden.
Conor Hoban bounced him straight into the lead and Mick Halford's colt (5-6 favourite) shut the door on the challenging Maronella coming down the straight before running on well to score by a length and a quarter.
David Simmonson swooped through a gap to land the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap on 11-4 favourite Have A Nice Day while Robbie Downey stormed down the outside to take the Race & Dine At Dundalk From 17 Euro PP Handicap on Poitin (9-2).
