Emperor rules with King pulling the strings

Shabra Emperor took his score to two wins from fifty seven starts when defying top-weight in the hands of Connor King in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap at Dundalk.

Third when running from the front in a decent heat here a week ago, this time King took a more patient approach on Shabra Emperor, dropped back to seven furlongs.

The star apprentice delivered the Holy Roman Emperor gelding down the outer in the straight.

He led inside the final hundred yards on the way to accounting for Boughtforasong by a length.

Anthony McCann, representing winning trainer Oliver Brady, said: "That was long overdue. The plan worked out well, we claimed the five pounds and Connor gave him a great ride.

"He's been running very consistent from seven up to a mile and two and hopefully he can keep going.

"Hopefully that'll give Oliver (currently hospitalised) a bit of a lift." (AM & EM)