It was hard to argue with Ger Flynn's "as Kevin (Manning) said the horse deserved that as he's been knocking on the door in some good races. He ran a blinder in the Derrinstown last season." Flynn has worked for winning trainer Jim Bolger for many years and he'd just watched the Godolphin-owned Saffarr win on his eleventh start in the Dundalk Business Club 2017 Maiden.

The 11/4 shot was in front after three furlongs, and asked to go and win his race a furlong and a half out he went on to beat Surrounding and the odds-on favourite Zabalan by two and a quarter lengths and two and three parts of a length.

"He handled the surface really well and the drop back in trip seemed to suit him. Hopefully it's onwards and upwards now, he's a nice horse to go to war with," added Flynn.

"He was probably one of the highest rated maidens last year, I think he was 105 at one stage.

"He deserved it and he seems pretty sweet in himself at the moment."

(GC & EM)