First reserve Firstman was indeed the first to finish in Dundalk's opening Irish injuredjockeys Apprentice Claiming Race today, as the Tony Martin trained gelding was later the subject of a friendly claim.

Martin ran three horses in the 1m2f 150yds contest with Firstman (11/1), under Siobhan Rutledge leading home a '1-2-5' for the trainer, beating stablemate Akhlaaq (40/1). Bright Idea the 4/9 favourite, finished third with Martin's other runner Niburu filling fifth.

Following the race, and prior to the announcement of Claims made, Martin stated “Siobhan did everything right and fair play to her. She’s been lucky for us.

“I’m delighted for the man that owns him, Eric Carson from Comber in County Down, and the syndicate is named after his late wife (Elizabethcarsonracing Syndicate).

“He’s a horse that should have a few races won before now and he’d run well here before.”

There were eight claims in total for winner Firstman at €7,000, with his same current connections successful in the draw.

Third-placed Bright Idea was claimed for €20,000 by Paul Nolan, fourth-placed Hightown Heights went for €12,000 to James McAuley while sixth-placed Cloak Of Darkness neatly vacated a space in Nolan's Wexford-bound lorry, being claimed by trainer Harry Smyth, for €5,000.

Quotes from Alan Magee