Autocrat asserted in the closing stages to take the opening ten furlong claimer at Dundalk today.

Dan King settled behind the leaders on the 5/2 favourite before making ground on the Shane Ryder-trained gelding early in the straight.

The No Nay Never gelding tackled long-time leader Garrick Painter a furlong from home and was nicely on top in the closing stages as he went on to record a two-and-three-quarter-length success.

Autocrat, recording his third win at the track, was taking a drop in class having been fifth in handicap company last week.

Ryder said: "I can't take a whole lot of credit for this one. I got him out of Denis Hogan's not too long ago and it was only a matter of keeping him ticking over.

"They have him in a good place and he was back down into a grade where he is nice and comfortable. Down in grade, he was comfortable everywhere.

"He didn't run badly the last day, they went very fast early on and he was on top of his head but he came home well.

"I'd like to hold onto him for a little while anyway. I'll leave it up the owners and see what they want to do."

The winner was subsequently claimed by James McAuley for E20,000 while the runner-up Garrick Painter was claimed by Noel Kelly for the same amount

The third home Hasten Slowly (E10,000) was claimed by John McConnell.

(Quotes by Michael Graham)