Charlie Bear and Leigh Roche © Photo Healy Racing
< Charlie Bear showed he is a smart sort for the time of year as he landed a commanding victory in the Elusive Pimpernel Race at Dundalk.
Shane Donohoe's three-year-old got off the mark at the third attempt when powering clear to win a maiden last month, and he was sent off the 4-6 favourite to follow up in a field that included another recent scorer in Five Claw
The pair sat just behind the pace and when the race began in earnest there was a brief tussle between the market rivals before Leigh Roche drove Charlie Bear into the lead a furlong out to win by an impressive four lengths.
Chris Hayes completed a double when the Andy Oliver-trained Have A Great Day who landed a maiden by six lengths on his return from over a year on the sidelines last week, followed up in the Hen & Stag Packages At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.
Sent off the 5-4 favourite to defy a 5lb ratings hike, the four-year-old chased Chillie Billie into the straight and collared the leader half a furlong out before forging clear by a length.
Hayes had already scored on Jane Foley's filly Acroleina (4-1), who stepped up on two recent close-up seconds to take the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap, leading just inside the final furlong and holding Ability N Delivery by a length.
Kevin Manning had to work hard to get the Jim Bolger-trained Sar Oiche (8-1) home in the Champion's Restaurant Dining At Dundalk Stadium Handicap, but he had a willing partner who repelled all-comers to score by half a length.
John Larkin's Headlong (7-2) won for the first time in 17 attempts when he was sent to the front on the turn in by Ross Coakley and kept on just enough to hold Saga Diamond by a head in a thrilling four-way finish to the Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Maiden.< Showcard (11-2) rallied under Robbie Downey to take the Dundalk Stadium Light Up Your Night Handicap by a neck, while Share A Secret (20-1) slipped through on the inner to win the Floodlight Friday Nights Handicap by two and a half lengths for Gary Phillips.
