“He'll win bar a fall” was jockey Gary Carroll's days-earlier prediction for Palace Rock s flat prospects at Dundalk today, as the pair indeed remained upright in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Maiden, to score for trainer Francis Casey.

The son of Battle Of Marengo finished well when second on his previous start in December and with Gary Carroll today taking the ride today, having worked Palace Rock in recent days, the pair (returned 11/1, having been 20/1 this morning) recorded a two and a quarter lengths win over Scott Lang

Casey, son of late Grade 1 winning trainer and top-notch mischief maker Peter Casey, later reported “Gary the cheeky bugger rode him work the other day and said to me 'he'll win bar a fall' and I said 'it's not a bloody hurdle race!'

"He said 'well then you have your answer - if I'm wrong the horse that beats him will win."

He added “I was happy with that and the lads like to have a few quid on so I'm sure they're happy.

“He's still a big baby, he's 17 hands and might go over hurdles now, I'm not too sure. I've always thought the world of him, he's a lovely horse.

“He's still green. Gary said initially he was hanging a bit left and then when he straightened him up he was hanging right. When he hit the front he was very green but he likes him an awful lot.”

Quotes from Gary Carson