Connacht Council (eventually beat only one home) looked to go off an amazingly tight 4/5 chance for the opening Dundalk Stadium Racecourse Of The Year Rated Race and a horse rated three pounds superior but conceding the same here, Iron Major scored at odds of seven to one under Fergal Lynch.

Lynch took the softly softly approach on the victorious chestnut and once he got the split the seven-year-old, now an eight-time winner, found enough under pressure to go on and beat Strait Of Zanzibar by half a length.

A self-deprecating Lynch quipped: "I got there too soon as usual."

He then explained: "Johnny Murtagh told me the key to this horse is that when you get there you make his mind up for him."

In the absence of winning trainer Eddie Lynam his brother John said: "The nature of the course has changed a lot since they put in the false rail and it doesn't really suit him as he needs cover.

"You need a lot of balls to sit in behind and wait and wait and Fergal gave him a great ride."

The Stewards enquired into an incident before and after the winning post involving Iron Major, ridden by F.Lynch, Reckless Lad ridden by C.P. Hoban, and Strait Of Zanzibar (USA), ridden by S. Foley, where it appeared Strait Of Zanzibar (USA) ran short of room and stumbled. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards found F. Lynch in breach of Rule 214 (iii) and having taken his previous record into account suspended him for one race day.

(AM & EM)