Nigg Bay was the subject of a friendly claim by a part-owner following his win in the opening Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Claiming Race at Dundalk today, scoring a first winner in Ireland this year for his trainer Johnny Levins.

The son of Exceed And Excel was one of five winners recorded in Britain this year for trainer Levins and today, under jockey Mark Enright, comfortably beat runner-up French by a length and a quarter.

The win was Nigg Bay's third career success and following the race Levins stated “he has his little issues with the stalls and it’s more impatience than anything else. He’s a good horse up here, loves the surface and I don’t think he’s ever run a bad race here.

“He’s typical of the owner (David Spratt). He restocks at the end of the year and he’s here to be claimed for anyone. These races are great and if he is claimed then the best of luck to the next person that gets him and if not we’ll be happy to take him home.

“It was a lovely ride by Mark. I felt he was one of the strongest riders in the race and it was good to have his services.”

Nigg Bay was subsequently claimed back for E13,000 by part-owner and Irish Field journalist John O'Riordan who now takes full ownership of the gelding.

Fourth-placed Master Speaker was picked up for E8,000 by James McAuley to be trained by Denis Hogan while Hogan will now also train Piper Bomb which finished second-last, as the filly was claimed for E5,000 by Genesis Thoroughbreds

Quotes from Alan Magee