Rivellino justified odds-on favouritism with a victory by a head in the claimer at Dundalk.

This was his second start for Ado McGuinness and he carried top weight of 10 stone as he was put in to be claimed for 20,000 euro.

He travelled well in second for Colin Keane as the pair entered the straight. He was then ridden to lead from Sartori a furlong and a half out but faced a strong challenge from Master Bond in the final furlong.

Master Bond pressed the winner to the line but just couldn't reel him in and had to settle for second at 11/1. Arlecchino's Rock came in third at 13/2.

Ado McGuinness said: "He made hard work of it. He's probably a shade high but a lot of times in some of these claimers a lot of fancied horses do make hard work of it. Colin (Keane) said he didn't do a stroke when he got there.

"We were happy to get the win and he wasn't an overly dear horse. We got him two months ago in Newmarket.

"Hopefully the handicapper might even drop him a few pounds after that. We'll probably run him in a few big handicaps if he is not claimed. He has loads of ability. He had 10 stone and had 10 stone the last day."

Johnny Levins claimed Hasselnott James McAuley claimed Master Bond and Pat Martin claimed Arlecchino's Rock. The winner Rivellino wasn't claimed.

The distance between each of the first five horses home was a head.