Secret Rock asserted in the closing stages to claim the first division of the mile-and-a-half handicap at Dundalk.

The Tony Martin-trained gelding was well backed into 3/1 favourite (from 8/1) and travelled strongly to challenge a furlong-and-a-half from home.

Jake Coen asked his mount to grab the lead inside the final furlong and he stuck on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-quarter win over St Cianans Fire

It was a second win on the Flat for the Fascinating Rock gelding, who had also scored over timber at Wexford last March.

Martin said: "The young fella was excellent on him and everything went well.

"He is good value for his 5lb. He has got a bit heavy for the Flat, he had no saddle there. Very good rider, and a good lad, Ben, ahead of him.

"We'll mix and match with him, he won over hurdles in Wexford and he won (on the Flat) in Roscommon with Jake's brother Ben and Ben, who is away at the moment, had a word with him last night and told him what to do."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)