The Reaper keeps Balmont Mast at bay at Dundalk© Photo Healy Racing
The six furlong Mourne Handicap was delayed by 20 minutes due to a stalls malfunction at Dundalk, but it made no difference to The Reaper who stayed on well close home to win by half a length.
The four-year-old, trained by Ger Lyons, was due to carry 10 stone 3 but Emmet McNamara’s three pound claim alleviated the burden to 10 stone, but he was still the top weight in the competitive 14-runner contest.
The Reaper (5/1 co-favourite) was always prominent and led under two furlongs out and was able to hold off Balmont Mast (5/1 co-favourite) in second. Among Equals at 8/1 was a further length and a half in arrears in third.
The other 5/1 co-favourite, Invincible Ridge came home sixth.
Ger Lyons is the leading trainer at Dundalk or as he put it, “the king of the sand!” His string have been in good recent form with this win his fourth in the last two weeks.
“That was a great performance. I’ve always said he is a Pattern horse in handicaps.I had no option but to wait with him because of the ground,” Lyons said.
“I’m happy with him. He’ll go back to Dubai. He pulled his near fore shoe off in that race.
“It was a good ride from Emmet. One of our aims was for him to ride out his claim and I think he has four winners to go.”
There was plenty of money at the track for Elusive Ridge from 9/1 down to 11/2, but he finished fourth under Joseph O’Brien for Harry Rogers.
Seamie Heffernan received a two-day ban for using his whip above the shoulder on Among Equals.
