Dee Sprinter a welcome winner for Roberts

Dee Sprinter dashed home in Dundalk's five-furlong handicap to give trainer Reginald Roberts a first winner in six years.

No less than six horses jostled for the lead sweeping round the home bend with Dee Sprinter just in behind them. Maggie Thunder grabbed a definite lead approaching the final furlong and was ridden to go and win her race with 150 yards left.

However, Dee Sprinter had moved into a threatening position and came home best for Oisin Orr to get up in the closing stages.

The 18/1 winner prevailed by a short head from the 15/8 favourite. Mi Esperanza was three and a quarter lengths adrift in third at 15/2.

"He's shown bits and pieces of form, that he would be able to pick up one of them, and I think the eyeshields today really helped him,” said Orr.

“He travelled well, he only just does enough, but that's all he had to do today. I thought I was up at the line but you can never be 100 per cent sure. He put his head down at the right time.”

Dee Sprinter had been a 17-race maiden before today. This was his first run on an all-weather surface and the first-time he sported eyeshields.

Roberts' last winner was Misty Lane at Dundalk in November 2014.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson