Headmaster rules the roost in valuable Habitat Handicap Commentator Jerry Hannon really earned his corn as Headmaster burst through close home to pick up the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Habitat Handicap over six furlongs in the Curragh. An absolute wall of horses held valid claims right across the track a furlong and a-half out. At this stage, Dylan Browne McMonagle on Headmaster was fully second last of the 22 runners and looking for room. He didn't panic and was still seeking an avenue in the final furlong. A path opened in the closing stages and McMonagle pushed his horse through and, to Headmaster's credit, he surged on to get up close home. The winner prevailed by a neck at 14/1 from Fort Vega (16/1) who also finished well. Back Down Under (22/1) and Bodhi Bear (10/1) rounded the places for each-way players. Eddie Lynam said: “I’d love to take any credit, but I can’t. This is Sarah’s (Lynam, daughter) horse really, she bought him, and I’m only in charge of who mucks him out!” “Sarah does all the work with him. She made a very good decision because a couple of weeks ago he worked poorly, he was going for this race, and she said ‘we’re not going to work him again’. “With all my years of experience, I said ‘that’s a clueless thing to do', but anyway we’d run with it, so she knows what she’s doing. Fair play to her. “A small trainer in England (William Haggas) had him! I like the pedigree, the mam won the (Prix de la) Foret three times. “I’ll have to do what I’m told with him, but the programme writes itself.” This was his second run for Lynam having won twice in Britain for Haggas. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
