The Ger Lyons-trained Merricourt had to survive a stewards enquiry before being confirmed as the winner of the Servisource Healthcare Claiming Maiden at Dundalk.

Having been prominent early in the mile contest Colin Keane elected to track the leaders before producing the 13/8 favourite to lead a furlong-and-a-half from home.

The grey gelding drifted to his right going to the furlong pole and carried runner-up Pocotaligo with him for a few strides.

Once straightened up the son of Mizzen Mast kept on to record a three-parts-of-a-length win.

“Colin said he just idled a little bit in front but he corrected him straight away,” said Shane Lyons.

“He said the track is riding very slow, which suits this lad.

“He'll be an ideal horse for the winter around here and eventually jumping.

“We put these horses in these claimers to promote these claimers and get them gone.

"There are no issues with them on our front, we handicap them and if somebody wants a nice horse that's what they are there for. We're a big fan of the claimers.”

The runner-up Pocotaligo was claimed by Genesis Thoroughbreds, to be trained by Ado McGuinness. The third home Silk Air was claimed by Johnny Levins.