Less than a length and three parts split the first six in the eight runner Extra.ie Handicap at the Curragh. Ken Condon's Ice Cold In Alex was the one to emerge on top in the sprint under Niall McCullagh.

Backers of several of these had cause to be optimistic until late in the day, but the Middleham Park Racing Ireland-owned Ice Cold In Alex (10/1) touched off Enter The Red and Snowstar by a head and the same.

"It all worked out well in the end. He's relatively unexposed and a little bit green. When I asked him to quicken it just took five or six strides for the penny to drop but when it did he was electric," said McCullagh.

"There is a bit of improvement in him and he might make into a nice little sprinter.

"He got no run whatsoever (last time) and Dusty (Shane Foley) was very strong on him today. He told me how to ride him so fair dues to him."

(GC & EM)