The last race at Dundalk was certainly worth the wait as Saxo Jack (7/1) held on to beat fast-finishing Steps To Freedom for the 30,000 winner's share in the extended mile and a quarter ‘Red God’ Premium Handicap.

Gary Carroll had the bottom weight handily placed in fourth and when the split came a furlong out, the pair set sail for home.

However, Steps To Freedom (5/1) was picking his way through the traffic and once in the clear he chased him all the way to the line, but was half a length down at the finish.

Steps To Freedom was fully 11th of the 14 runners on the homeward turn, but he tanked along as Connor King navigated his way through the traffic. He holds an entry in this Saturday's Ebor at York.

Course specialist Banna Boirche got third-placed money for Mick Halford at 16/1.

“He’s a nice improving son of King’s Best and he’s very uncomplicated,” winning trainer Ger Lyons said of Saxo Jack.

“He bounced smartly and Gary got him into a lovely racing position. I thought he won that like a nice horse and he could be a stakes horse.”

This was only Saxo Jack’s fourth career outing and indeed it was the three-year-old's first venture into handicap company. He had shed his maiden tag last-time out at Leopardstown over a mile and a quarter.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee