There was drama at the start of the Easy Clean Ltd Race as the well supported 7/4fav Giant Step gave favourite backers no run for their money, as he veered right out of the stalls and hit the rail under Billy Lee.
He lost a lot of ground from that and was pulled up by his rider.
That left the other four runners to fight it out with the punters third choice at 7/2, Coprah coming out on top under Johnny Murtagh. Fred Archer & Mawaakef decided to stay on the rails coming up the home straight with both Coprah & Northern Rocked opting for the stand side.
From a furlong out Coprah began to get on top and managed to fend off the challenge of Mawaakef by a length and three parts at the line.
Ken Condon, who trains the winner was completing an across the card double as he earlier won the opener at Dundalk with Liberty Island Johnny Murtagh was also completing a quick double following his success aboard Shiramiyna in the first.
Ken Condon said afterwards: "Johnny decided to come up the outside as the better ground was out there.
"We were concerned with his mark of 88 and we didn't want to go for a Sprint Handicap as he lacked the experience for that. A stiff seven furlongs to a mile is his trip.
"He improves from racing and he will go for a nice handicap next."
Rider of Giant Step, Billy Lee said afterwards: "The horse just went right out of the stalls, he seemed to want to go into town!"
Later Lee reported to the stewards that his mount veered right out of the stalls and hit the rails, losing considerable ground. He then pulled him up as a result.
