Pyromaniac comes alight in the Curragh

Pyromaniac delivered at 13/2 in the Curragh's two mile handicap for Tony Martin and Fran Berry.

The five-year-old gelding raced in mid-division as Ashbury Boss took the 19-runner field along. Giant's Quest raced a close second behind Ashbury Boss before he took it up with over five furlongs to travel.

Connor King, on board Giant's Quest, set sail for home beyond the three pole. Pyromaniac still sat well off the pace but was going noticeably well.

Berry got a dream run through on the inner into fourth with more than two furlongs to negotiate. He was soon busy asking Pyromaniac to pick off the three horses in front of him.

At the furlong marker Pyromaniac came through to head the weakening Giant's Quest and Ashbury Boss. Awesome Star though was staying on to good effect on Pyromaniac's outer.

It became a battle between the pair but Pyromaniac kept in front to win by a head. The runner-up Awesome Star was a 16/1 chance. Ashbury Boss (20/1) and Giant's Quest (25/1) completed the placings in third and fourth respectively.

Tony Martin said: "He's very versatile. He'd a great run at Punchestown and won well at Limerick. He's a dual purpose horse and he'll tip away.

"He got two miles well, and hopefully he'll step up in trip over hurdles. I thought that was a good performance."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee