Keane on the mark at Dundalk

Champion jockey Colin Keane returned to action after Sunday's celebrations at Naas and was quickly off the mark in the opening race on the card at Dundalk this evening.

Again, it was the Keane - Ger Lyons combination that took the laurels in the opening maiden with Palariva which went to the front a furlong out and won by a length with former champion Pat Smullen down the field.

Smullen must be fed up of the rear view at this stage and in the next it was more of the same, although the Offaly man had a better view on this occasion finishing second to the Keane / Lyons winner Beckoning.

Smullen (second) did manage to get the better of Keane (third) in a 10-furlong maiden but he was eclipsed by another Meath jockey when Padraig Beggy took the first place on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Clear Skies - the Dunboyne jockey's third winner in six days.