Prisoner's Dilemma and Donagh O'Connor© Photo Healy Racing
The Johnny Levins-trained Prisoner's Dilemma swooped through in good style to run out a cosy winner of the six-furlong handicap at Dundalk this evening.
His stamina kicked in late on as the 11/2 shot powered ahead in the final furlong to settle matters.
Donagh O'Connor produced his mount on the outer to lead passing the furlong pole and he went on to post a two-and-a-quarter length win over Inflection Point
The winner had recorded his previous four career victories over seven furlongs.
Levins said: "He was very unlucky the last day, he had a very bad trip around the outside and he just got rolling a bit too early.
"We freshened him up and I'm delighted as I took a chance running him over six. There was no seven-furlong race for him and it was champions finals day and I really wanted to support it because it is a good thing. Well done to Jim (Martin) and his team for putting it on. I was keen to have a runner and took a chance and it paid off.
"I've learned that I have options now because he is not just a seven-furlong horse as I had him pigeonholed. We will look at six and seven-furlong races on the turf but as I alluded to the last time, I am targeting the Sovereign Path in Leopardstown on Champions Weekend.
"It was a very fast pace up front and he (Donagh) rode with a good clock in his head and picked up the pieces. I wouldn't get carried away with the distance, as the pace did fall away and he benefitted from a very good ride. He will run on Sunday (at Naas) under the 5lb penalty.
"We have about 18-20 horses for the new Flat season. We need to build a bit more but we are happy with how they are running."
(Quotes by Michael Graham)