With his 12/1 stable companion, Dimitar (ended up a non-runner) in the line-up this morning, Akasaka was an 8/11 chance for the Group Discounts At Dundalk Claiming Race. Fran Berry's mount ultimately went off a 4/9 chance and he pleased his backers with a length victory in the three runner contest.

The hot-pot was kept up to his task by Berry to beat off his fellow Eddie Lynam runner, Muck'N'Brass (later claimed for 25K by Breen White, successful in the past with the John Larkin-trained Bay Of Kotor). Akasaka and Muck'N'Brass had passed the pace-setting outsider, Charpoy inside the final quarter mile.

Lynam explained: "The way they are rated it made sense to run them here. They are in the shop window and maybe somebody will claim them.

"They went slow enough and it turned into a sprint up the straight. Other trainers don't seem to like these races. They probably think it's like turkeys voting for Christmas but they suit us.

"Having said that, with the small field here, maybe there won't be as many of them from now on." (AM & EM)