Firstman (noseband) wins from Palace Rock © Photo Healy Racing
Firstman (11/1) won for the third time in 2022 when coming from well back under Colin Keane in the 1m4f handicap.
Keane sat towards the rear on the Zoffany gelding before bringing him to the stands' rail early in the straight. Firstman soon picked up well but was checked over a furlong out before being switched left to go in pursuit of the front-running Palace Rock The five-year-old stayed on well to thwart the latter by three parts of a length.
Winning trainer Tony Martin said: "He nearly got done there, the two of them were nearly in the car park!
"He is what he is and it is grand that he did that.
"They (Keep Your Distance Syndicate) are a great bunch of local lads in the GAA club, neighbours of mine and I've known them a long time.
"They claimed him this time last year. I recommended them to claim him because the man that had him originally (Eric Carson) was a good owner of mine and he just had enough.
"It has worked out well, but it is just unfortunate as I would have loved to have seen him have a bit of success."
Quotes from Michael Graham
