Bobby K and Gary Carroll nearest win from Alfarida for trainer Michael O Meara© Photo Healy Racing
Gary Carroll continued his excellent run of form when getting the Michael O'Meara trained Bobby K up right on the line to win the first division of the View Restaurant At Dundalk Handicap.
Prior to this afternoon, Carroll sat level with Ryan Moore at the head of the jockeys championship but the win aboard the O'Meara trained gelding sees him go one ahead.
A previous course and distance winner in January 2021, the son of Dabirsim was dropping into the bottom grade for the first time.
Held up in mid division for the early part of the race, Carroll moved closer early in the straight, switching his mount to challenge down the outer from over a furlong out.
It took every yard to collar the Andrew Slattery ridden Alfarida eventually getting his head down on the line to win by a nose.
Michael O'Meara said: "Halfway up (the straight) we didn't know and Gary didn't even know if he was going to get there!
"He was asking me would you put headgear on him and I think he'd take it off himself to be honest! He knows more about racing than we do.
"We are glad now, he is getting old and anything after that is a bonus.
"Down in class and back to where he belongs, he's in and around that mark now.
"This track, if they get a lot of rain, they are riding on the top of it and I think that's what he wants, top of the ground."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
