Alliance awarded feature in stewards room

Dark Alliance recorded his third career win and first this season but only after being awarded the featured KC Civil Engineering Supporting Naas Hurling Handicap in the stewards room. Captain Power edged slightly right when making his challenge about a furlong out, and in the process was adjudged to have hampered Dark Alliance (5/1).

The Eddie Lynam-trained 11/4 favourite looked set to record a convincing success but eventually just held on by a fast diminishing short-head.

Lynam’s Falcao was a further half a length back in third.

Winning trainer Michael Halford said, “It’s never a nice way to win but he was taken off track a bit.

“He ran well at Fairyhouse the last day and a straight six furlongs suits him. He needs a bit of time between his races, and could run at the Curragh later this month.”

Before the result of the enquiry was announced, Lynam said of Captain Power, “I thought he was going to win by a length but in the end he’s scraped home. He only seems to do enough.”