Simon Craig does great work in the saddle to get Lagan Canal (noseband) through a tight gap© Photo Healy Racing
Lagan Canal kept on best in the closing stages to win the McLoughlin Oil Flat Race, providing his trainer Tony Martin with a first and last race double (won the opener with Military Bowl .
Ridden by Simon Craig (recorded his first Irish winner aboard Martin's Ted Veale at the course yesterday) the six-year-old son of Heron Island was sent off at 6/1 in the colours of Ronnie Jordan from Moira, Co Down.
He was held up towards the rear for much of the contest before he made headway into eighth five furlongs out.
He moved into fifth two furlongs out and he was ridden over a furlong from home, squeezing through a tight gap in the final 100 yards before going on to score by half a length at the line.
Knightstone (3/1) had to settle for second under Kate Harrington for her mother Jessica while the 5/4 favourite (9/4 this morning and from 6/4 on-course), Back Before Dawn could only manage third, a further half a length back under Harley Dunne for Dessie Hughes.
Tony Martin said afterwards: "We will have to think about where to go now. He could go for a maiden on the flat or a maiden hurdle.
"We have schooled him and he jumps well. Simon was fairly cool on him."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
