Drinks on Crawley as Karlsberg justifies strong support

Karlsberg registered a third career success when making a winning seasonal reappearance in the Follow Us On Social Media Handicap at Cork.

A previous winner here over 7f as a three-year-old, the Shane Crawley trained mare was well supported in the betting, being backed down to 9-2f, having been as big as 12/1 overnight.

A horse who tends to run well fresh, both that fact and her return to the bottom grade for the first time in over two years saw her prove popular with punters.

Jockey Hugh Horgan did well to hold a prominent early position from a wide draw in stall 18, tacking over to sit in the box seat just off the pace.

Moving through to head long time leader Relevant Range over a furlong out, Karlsberg showed determination to hold off the strong late run of Pascalia

Winning trainer Shane Crawley said: "When she is on song she is a good mare but her antics before the race were a concern as she didn't want to leave the parade ring and after she won, didn't want to go back to the parade.

"Things weren't happening for her towards the end of last year so we left her off. She is a big strong mare, soft ground is her thing and I keep saying that Hugh (Horgan) can ride and he claimed 5lb."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.