Celtic Revival and James Ryan win for trainer Eddie Lynam from Golden Sandbanks Healy Racing© Photo Healy Racing
Celtic Revival registered a fourth victory over course and distance when staying on strongly up the straight to win the first division of the Dual Racing Friday Nights Handicap at Dundalk.
The Eddie Lynam trained gelding had hinted that his turn was near when runner-up on his penultimate outing at this track, before finishing a solid fifth at Navan last time.
With James Ryan(on board for all three previous wins) back in the saddle, the four-year-old looked well treated despite the impost of topweight. Humanitarian cut out the early running, coming wide into towards the stands rail as the horses turned into the straight. Ryan moved ominously well in behind on Celtic Revival, coming through in the centre to lead over a furlong out.
The Paul Flynn trained Golden Sandbanks came with a strong late run under Dylan Browne McMonage but the eventual winner was always holding his challenge.
James Ryan said: "He loves it up here.
"The race worked out well to a certain point - I got a lovely position and, just when we went up the straight, the race fell in a hole and I got there a bit soon. In fairness, he toughed it out which was great.
"Eddie has been very good to me now and I have been lucky with him. It is great for him to keep the continued support for me, and I'm very grateful for it.
"He is a big horse and well able to carry it (weight). We were confident today, the last day things didn't go quite as well but his run up here the last day in Dundalk he was second so the 5lb off him got him over the line today."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
