Double and a ban for Keane

IT was a mixed night for teenager Colin Keane at Dundalk last night, completing the first double of his career, on Mountain Coral and Knockgraffon Lad, and picking up a three-day careless riding ban following an incident in the apprentice handicap.

Seven-year-old Mountain Coral, owned and trained by Fran Oakes, registered his first win since the summer of 2009 when getting the better of Farmleigh House in the opening Christmas Parties At Dundalk Handicap and will return to the track for a similar handicap next Friday.

Keane completed his double and brought his career total to nine when Knockgraffon Lad, an emphatic winner on the track last week, followed-up under a cool ride by Keane, pouncing inside the final furlong to beat Daiy Mountain in a division of the [e-mail] Handicap.

Winning trainer Mick Byrne said: “He got a good ride from Colin. There's another race for him here on January 6.”

Training honours went to local handler Harry Rogers, who completed a double with Elusive Ridge, ridden by Joseph O'Brien, in the Group Discounts At Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Handicap, and Lily's Star, a rare winner at Dundalk for Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden, in the first division of the [e-mail] Handicap. Both horses are expected to reappear at Dundalk next Friday.

Apprentice Gary Halpin, (17), from Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, registered his first success in the saddle, at his third attempt, when Master Melody, trained by his boss Kevin Prendergast, rallied inside the final furlong to get the better of flattering favourite Flavia Tatiana in the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap.

And in the maiden action, Beat The Ballot swept through late to foil Ferryview Place in the juvenile event while John Egan rode his first winner in Ireland since July 2009 when Salam Alaykum, trained by Michael Halford for Khaled A Rakim, outbattled chief market rival in the finale, the Group Discounts At Dundalk Maiden.