Free Spin comes with a late rattle

Free Spin got off the mark in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Maiden over a mile at Dundalk under a power-packed drive from Shane Foley.

Foley sat mid-division halfway, but switched his mount under two furlongs out and stayed on well to get up on the line and win by a neck.

The three-year-old was backed down to 11/4 favouritism from 4/1 at the track and there was also money for Arbitrageur (8/1 to 7/2). Donal Kinsella’s charge finished fifth.

Free Spin pipped Jim Bolger’s Rigoletta (7/2) with Spirituality in third, beaten a short head by the runner-up at 5/1.

Michael Halford trained the winner and he said: “He didn’t get the clearest of runs. He likes the surface and on his form was entitled to win.

“He’s very genuine and straightforward. He’ll go handicapping and to the horses in training sale.”