Lightnin Hopkins (far rail) gets the verdict from Boston Rocker © Photo Healy Racing
A bold move to race alone on the stand's side paid off handsomely for Lightnin Hopkins in the six furlong conditions race at Naas.
Gary Carroll kept his mount well wide of his two rivals but he was ahead where it mattered. Boston Rocker led Blue Bullet on the far side but was headed in the closing stages as Ger Lyons' charge emerged as a half length victor.
The winner, sent off 13/8 favourite, was following up on his maiden success here in June and his handler felt he was scoring in spite of the ground today.
"I ran one in the first which I liked. He was drawn two and got stuck on the ground on the inside. It's bottomless," said Lyons.
"I said to Gary we might look very stupid with what I'm asking u to do. He told me what the other jockeys intended and I said I didn't care he had to come wide.
"We had nothing to lose. If he had raced on the inside he wouldn't have won. He hates the ground.
"Historically the best ground here when it's soft is out wide. It's as bad as I've seen all summer. Very tacky.
"I was happy he was thereabouts but where I watch it the angle is horrendous.
"That win was a bonus and we'll step him up to stakes company now."
