Lyons at double with Krasimir as Holohan earns plaudits Just the two races into Irish Champions Festival and Ger Lyons saddled a quick-fire double when Krasimir roared home in the Sovereign Path over seven furlongs at Leopardstown. Reese Holohan's 7lb claim came into play on the 15/2 chance and it certainly helped at the business end. Holohan pushed his mount along in rear of mid-division swinging the home bend and switched him out wide at the '2' pole. The pair made sustained progress outside the final furlong and stormed into contention in the final 150 yards. British-raider Vafortino held a narrow lead with 100 yards to travel, but was caught close home by Krasimir who finished best of all. The winner beat the 7/1 runner-up by a head with a staying-on Sindagan three-quarters of a length away in third. Oro Blanco rounded out the placings in fourth at 12/1. Lyons said: “He’s been a model of consistency all year, he hasn’t been out of the first three. “Fair play to the young man, I’ve been watching him from afar. I don’t normally ring agents, but I rang for him. “At the weights, with his claim, I thought he would be well in. You wouldn’t normally say that with English horses coming over, but I thought he was. “He’s just a good, tough, solid, horse that has grown into himself all summer. I think he deserves that win. “I’ve been saying to my lads to swing in and go wide and late if you can. I didn’t say that to this kid, I just said ‘keep it simple and don’t get into any trouble’. “He knows where the winning post is, the kid. I’ve been watching him all summer. Every year you see one and he’s the one this year. “This horse was well over 550 kilos all summer and I couldn’t get the weight off him. I think he’s just maturing into himself and learning how to race. “By doing that they handicap themselves and you get on the right side.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
