Donal Murphy
Double & 1, 2 for Lynam as Akasaka scores
Akasaka (right) & Iron Major after they finished first and second
© Photo Healy Racing
After taking the second with Veronica Falls Eddie Lynam doubled up in the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Claiming Race, as he saddled a one, two with Akasaka getting the better of Iron Major (4/1).
The Ronan Whelan ridden victor has now got his head in front seven times, with six of his successes coming at Dundalk.
He was sent off the 11/10 favourite for this contest, and the six-year-old son of King's Best made all and kept on well under pressure in the final furlong to hold off the challenge of his Robbie Downey ridden stable mate by half a length.
He’s Got Rhythm (11/4), who won this race last year, had to settle for third, a further length and a quarter back under Connor King for David Marnane.
Ronan Whelan said afterwards: "He travelled well and quickened.
"Ideally I would have got a lead around but I kept it simple and it worked out well.
"I feel like if we’d gone another furlong he still would have won. When the other horse came to me he found more.
"It's probably riding a bit slow out there.
"He has won more times around here than me!"
Additional reporting by Michael Graham