Reward makes it a good start for Lyons at Dundalk

Major Reward brought his polytrack form figures to ‘1621’ when taken back from handicap company to land the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Apprentice Claiming Race at Dundalk.

John Shinnick rode his third winner aboard Ger Lyons’ representative, delivering him towards the inner up the straight.

The Dawn Approach gelding was much too strong for his rivals in the final furlong as he accounted for fellow market-leaders Yuften and The Game Of Life

Two and a half lengths and a length and a half separated them at the line.

Shinnick is down from a ten pound allowance to seven now.

“I agree with this claiming system and moving them on rather than running 0-65s for €10,000,” said Lyons.

“He's in the sales and people can buy him here, he's good value at €20,000.

“We've got a winner on the board, the negative is that it's not for Colin, but that's life. The positive is that the kid is after losing his 10lb claim.

“He's a good kid. I said to him the ambition was to try and lose the 10lb and give him plenty of experience and he's had that.

“The horse has done his job but he's not good enough for that owner and that's what these races are for.

“We are winning them and supporting them and we're getting horses moved. I couldn't speak highly enough of the system. The stigma about them is gone and trainers have accepted them.

“We need more of them. Lads are giving out about getting balloted out in 0-65s and maybe if we had more of these races it would serve a lot of different purposes.”

James McAuley and James Gough claimed Major Reward and he'll be trained by Denis Hogan.

(GC & EM)