Ides Of August and Colin Keane(noseband) win from Agitare (white) © Photo Healy Racing
The featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Red God' Handicap went to the 14/1 chance Ides Of August for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane.
It was a quick double (at generous combined odds of 149/1) for trainer and jockey in the two big handicaps on the card after Angel Palm half an hour earlier.
Ides Of August sat well off the pace as Agitare (25/1) established a clear lead out in front. Keane got busy on the American-bred gelding by More Than Ready early in the straight and his mount moved into second over a furlong out.
Ides Of August collared Agitare well inside the final furlong to beat that rival by two lengths with the 11/10 favourite Safecracker who was a little outpaced two furlongs out before keeping on again, a further length and three quarters back in third.
The winner, consistent without getting his head in front in his previous runs this year, was adding to a debut maiden victory at Leopardstown last term.
Shane Lyons, assistant to his brother Ger, said: “The Ides Of August (a day in the Roman calendar that falls roughly in the middle of the month) falls on the 15th of August so we are very clever!
"We have been saying for a while that the Red God was the plan as his pedigree and knee action is like a real dirt horse. We thought this was his race.
“He’s been running well in nice handicaps and the race panned out really well for him today. They went a real good gallop, he had a good lead and something to chase down.
“Everything panned out perfectly for him and he’s justified what we thought of him. He’ll be a nice horse next year on that surface for staying races — a proper fun horse.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
