A Shin Impala (Wayne Lordan, nearside) just edged Tonkinese (Shane Foley)© Photo Healy Racing
< A Shin Impala justified strong market support when opening his account in the Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race & Stay Package Median Auction Race, the feature at Dundalk.
Tommy Stack's charge was the one punters wanted to be with beforehand, eventually going off the 8-13 favourite, but he had to work mightily hard to wear down Tonkinese in a thrilling finish.
Tonkinese cut out the early running but always had A Shin Impala snapping at his heels and the pair set down for a real ding dong inside the final furlong with only a head separating them as they hit the line.
2014 Triumph Hurdle winner Tiger Roll was denied a winning return to action when just losing out on his Flat debut in the Easter Eggstravaganza At Dundalk Stadium Maiden.
The high-class hurdler looked to have matters in hand when taking up the running approaching the final furlong but he couldn't repel the late challenge of the Pat Smullen-ridden Sir Raston (5-1) whose half a length victory was his first in 12 attempts.
Smullen gave a Carried (2-1 fav) a peach of ride from the front as the pair combined to take first prize in the Champions Restaurant Easter Special Handicap.
Having dictated matters from the outset, Smullen kicked his mount clear as they hit the home straight as market rival Lusis Naturea endured a nightmare passage in behind.
The latter made up stealthy late headway once in the clear but the bird had flown as Carried held on by a neck.< Your Pal Tal (5-1) bounced back from a string of dismal displays when recording a clear cut one and a half length success in the Follow Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Handicap while Locus Standi (3-1 fav) turned to the tables on old foe Sea of Blue to take the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap by three quarters of a length.
