Alfirak wins a thriller in Dundalk

Alfirak just prevailed after a final-furlong battle with Masalai in Dundalk.

The pair were locked together at the business end of the mile handicap and it was top-weight Masalai who held a narrow initiative.

However, Alfirak dug deep under Rory Cleary and got up on the line by a short head to reward his backers at 10/1 (from 14s).

Favourite backers were on runner-up Masalai at 7/2 while Turn On the Tears (13/2) was half a length further away in third.

Handler Damian English said: "We picked him up at the July Sale. He was in the catalogue as a colt but he was actually a gelding. He was a bit of a lad when he came, and a bit roguey, and we thought he was maybe going to be a bit ungenuine but he's sweetened up lovely.

“He still looked green there in the straight and was lugging in a bit. I honestly didn't think he'd got there.

“Rory reckons he'd be a lot better on good ground on grass. Hopefully we'll have a bit of fun for the summer if the weather dries up. We might come back here for one more before we get good ground.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson