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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Alfirak wins a thriller in Dundalk

Fri 6th Apr 2018, 20:40

Alfirak, near side, just pips MasalaiAlfirak, near side, just pips Masalai
© Photo Healy Racing

Alfirak just prevailed after a final-furlong battle with Masalai in Dundalk.

The pair were locked together at the business end of the mile handicap and it was top-weight Masalai who held a narrow initiative.

However, Alfirak dug deep under Rory Cleary and got up on the line by a short head to reward his backers at 10/1 (from 14s).

Favourite backers were on runner-up Masalai at 7/2 while Turn On the Tears (13/2) was half a length further away in third.

Handler Damian English said: "We picked him up at the July Sale. He was in the catalogue as a colt but he was actually a gelding. He was a bit of a lad when he came, and a bit roguey, and we thought he was maybe going to be a bit ungenuine but he's sweetened up lovely.

“He still looked green there in the straight and was lugging in a bit. I honestly didn't think he'd got there.

“Rory reckons he'd be a lot better on good ground on grass. Hopefully we'll have a bit of fun for the summer if the weather dries up. We might come back here for one more before we get good ground.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
10/1
Tote €14.90 €4.50
2nd
shd
7/2Fav
€1.40
3rd
0.5L
13/2
€3.00
4th
0.5L
13/2
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.