Take Cover (Fran Berry, red, to the fore) is strongest in the Mercury Stakes© Photo Healy Racing
Not surprisingly there was no hiding place in the five furlong Listed Mercury Stakes at Dundalk, and in the end Take Cover (Fran Berry up) led home a 1,2,3 for British trained runners. Speed Hawk and Colin Keane, for the Robert Cowell stable, gave it a good go in the straight, having been up there throughout dominating with Take Cover.
Berry brought Take Cover a little wider in the straight, and in the final furlong the winner proved stronger than Speed Hawk by a length and a half.
Mark Prescott's favourite, Marsha didn't enjoy a trouble free passage but she had every chance, a length and a quarter back in third. Gordon Lord Byron fared best of the home team in fourth.
"I don't know what happened him in the Abbaye (12th) but he had form before that behind Sole Power and Muthmir. You never get an easy Listed race but he was dropping down a couple of classes.
"He has form on the all-weather and I'm delighted for the owners (Norcroft Park Stud) who are big supporters of the yard.
"The plan is probably to go to Dubai and then he might get a break and miss Ascot to get ready for the King George again. He doesn't seem to peak until Goodwood."
C.D. Hayes, rider of Marsha trained by Sir Mark Prescott Bt (in GB), reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran very free.
(MG & EM)
