A four-timer for Aidan O’Brien in Dundalk last night, following a treble in Navan on Sunday, proved the well-being of both the Ballydoyle and Owning teams.

Recently back from a stint in Japan, Shane Foley celebrated his 28th birthday in style when completing a double on Russian Soul and Hat Alnasar for his boss Michael Halford in Dundalk last night.

Roman Impero, middle leg of a treble for trainer Michael Halford, and the Jim Bolger-trained Mandatario booked their tickets to the All-Weather Championships in Lingfield Park on Good Friday when winning their respective Fast Track Qualifiers in Dundalk last night.

Connor King reached another notable milestone in his career when he rode out his claim on board the Rodger Sweeney-trained Daliyan in the Join Us On September 20th Handicap in Gowran Park last evening.

Erlkonig benefited from a patient and well-executed ride from Danny Mullins when causing a 16-1 upset in the Bunkers Bar and Restaurant Killorglin Handicap Hurdle on day three at Killarney.

Progressive grey Togoville struck again for Georgios Pakidis and Gary Carroll in the featured At The Races Price Rush On Facebook Handicap as Dundalk’s winter season closed last night.

Trainer Johnny Levins divulged that the Ayr Gold Cup next September is the long-term target for Your Pal Tal following the progressive five-year-old’s victory in last night’s opener in Dundalk.

Smuggler’s Cove was an impressive winner of the listed Star Appeal 2-Y-0 Stakes in Dundalk last night, giving Aidan O’Brien his third successive win in the race.

Last season’s Cheltenham Bumper winner Silver Concorde made a successful return to action when justifying 2/5 favouritism in the two-mile Win A Ski Holiday Racecard Competition Maiden, the first leg of a double for Pat Smullen, in Navan yesterday.

The Andy Oliver-trained Panama Hat completed a superb five-timer when defying the handicapper and a high draw in yesterday’s finale in Dundalk, the featured, €50,000 Red God Handicap.

Aidan O’Brien and his son, Joseph, warmed up for Australia in the Irish Derby at the Curragh tomorrow when combining to land the 12 furlongs plus Maiden at Tipperary last night with Granddukeoftuscany.

Someone once defined a pessimist as an informed optimist, and here’s a scribbler who can readily identify with such a description on the lead-in to Cheltenham.

Tom Cooper’s Chute Hall can leave a frustrating run of three seconds in a row behind by landing the Cashel Maiden Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.