Mason City stays on well to take the bumper

A drifter in the live show from Evens out to 9/4 joint favourite, Mason City belied the market weakness with a strong-staying two length win in the KilbegganRaces.com (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

Jamie Codd ’s mount had a good tussle over the final quarter mile with Mahlers Dollar (6/1) before mastering that one inside the final furlong, with the other 9/4 joint favourite For Talks Sake another six lengths away in third.

The 7-year-old winner, by City Honours, had fallen when in contention in his only point-to-point two years ago, and reappeared last month when second in a Tipperary bumper on his first start for Gordon Elliott.

"He's improved from Tipperary and he appreciated that two-mile-three there today,” said Codd.

“He'll be a lovely fun horse. He'll probably head over hurdles but we'll see what Gordon wants to do with him. He's an older horse so he'll probably just go jumping now.

“It's great for the owners and Sinead (O'Brien) that works in the yard is closely associated with the horse so it's lovely.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson