Double for Murtagh as The Reaper just prevails

The judge David Maher was called upon to determine the winner of the feature race at Cork this afternoon, the Listed Cork Stakes of €40,000. The Reaper (10/1) trained by Ger Lyons under Johnny Murtagh (doubling up after taking the first aboard Slade Power getting the verdict by a short head from the David Wachman trained Experience (12/1) in second.

The 4yo son of Footstepsinthesand went to Dubai in January and finished third on his two starts over there. He was just four lengths behind subsequent Dubai Golden Shaheen Group 1, winner Krypton Factor on his last start over there.

Before today the bay gelding had just two wins to his name, both of which came at Dundalk in October 2010 and April of last year. He has however been a model of consistency and was placed thirteen times so far in his career.

Having tracked the leaders in the early part of the race, the winner was third at the halfway stage. He was ridden to challenge over a furlong out and led close home just holding on to deny Experience under Billy Lee. Katla for John Grogan ran yet another consistent race to finish a further length and a quarter third under Seamie Heffernan while the 6/1 favourite Criosultan for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen trailed in a disappointing last of the fifteen runners.

Ger Lyons, who was recording his first winner of the 2012 Flat Turf Season, wasn't present for the win but his brother and assistant trainer Shane was and he said: "I'm delighted with that as he deserved it, he had been knocking on the door.

"He went to Dubai and collected a few cheques, his form was rock solid over there. He will go for Stakes races now.

"I’m delighted for his owner Sean Jones, who is our main owner. He should have an awful lot of fun with this fellow. He will go for the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes next on May 17th." (DM & TW)