Cravat gets on top for Lyons and Keane

Silk Cravat got on top in the closing stages to justify his short price in the first division of the six-furlong handicap at Dundalk.

Ger Lyons' charge was sent to post an even-money shot and was produced to challenge on the inner by Colin Keane passing the furlong pole.

He got his head to the front inside the last 50 yards to record a half length win over Strategic Force Plough Boy had also fought out the three-way finish inside the final furlong and was a short-head back in third.

The winner had been placed twice on the polytrack since winning at Laytown in September.

Assistant Shane Lyons said:- “He keeps a bit for himself and the quicker they go the better.

“Six furlongs is ideal for him when they go quick as he can travel into it. When he gets to the front he waits for the others. He can go from six furlongs to a mile but they just don’t go quick enough for him over a mile.

“He’ll run all over the winter. The handicapper can’t be too hard on him, and when he tells us he’s fresh again we’ll keep him going.

“David Spratt set up Gaelic Thoroughbreds and there is a syndicate with three two-year-olds and three older horses. Joe Bracken and Joe Horan both from Clane are here today and they are involved in the syndicate. They are getting great sport out of it and they used to own Joe Eile.

“This year they have bought three new yearlings to go to war with and a couple of older horses as well. It’s an initiative that has really progressed this year and the yearlings we bought are quite expensive.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)