Connacht Council nearside gets up to deny Zalty (farside) with Lightin Hopkins in the centre© Photo Healy Racing
Pat Smullen produced Connacht Council with a perfectly timed run as they just got up to deny Fergal Lynch and Zalty (16/1) by a nose in the Follow Us On Facebook 3yo Handicap.
Smullen was completing a quick double aboard the Willie McCreery trained son of Haatef, having scored aboard Sandiva in the previous contest.
Connacht Council (8/1 this morning with Paddy Powers and 6's into 5's on-course) was fitted with blinkers for the first time today and they worked there magic as he came with his run on the outside, well inside the final furlong, just getting up on the line.
In what was a thrilling finish, the Ger Lyons trained Lightin Hopkins finished just another nose back in third under Colin Keane at 14/1.
The winner was shedding his maiden tag on the seventh time of asking and Willie McCreery said afterwards; "Pat gave him a great ride. He got a bit claustrophobic in the stalls.
"He has plenty of ability and he just couldn’t handle the ground last time out at Roscommon but he ran two grand races in Dundalk.
"The syndicate (the GAA Legends Syndicate) are very lucky as every horse they have had has won."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
