Brendan Brackan refuses to be passed

Brendan Brackan bounced right back to form when making all in the Listed corkracecourse.ie Navigation Stakes over an extended mile.

Gary Carroll set out to make it a true test for Brendan Brackan's four rivals as he swiftly moved the 3/1 shot into the lead as the stalls opened.

The six-year-old gelding was ridden outside the two pole to go and win his race and he kept finding more for pressure. Akira the well-backed 6/4 favourite, tried to reel in Brendan Brackan in the final furlong but despite cutting into the lead all the time was still a length and a quarter in arrears at the line.

Successful handler Ger Lyons was represented by his assistant trainer Shane Lyons who said: "That's super and he deserved that.

"He's an absolute grinder and if they're dead on their feet in the last 100 yards there's no horses will pass him.

"He was unlucky the last day (Cambridgeshire, unseated rider leaving stalls) as he could have qualified for the next race (Balmoral Handicap) at Ascot, if he finished in the first six then. There were no qualifiers over here (Ireland) for him.

"He won a Listed race here last year and I'm delighted for owners David Spratt and Sean Jones. He's a real yard favourite and they bought him mid-season when he was going to the Sales."

This was Brendan Brackan's sixth career victory on his 31st start. His last win also came in Listed company over a mile at this track in August last year.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes