Keane chooses right as Lyons' pair dominate

Neo Soul one of two runners in the Thesaurus Software Rated Race for Ger Lyons, was sent off favourite in spite of Colin Keane preferring to ride stablemate Jarvis (9/2) but the champion jockey was on the right one as things transpired.

The Profitable gelding led from the off and was pursued throughout by Neo Soul. Despite rolling around a little under pressure, he kept finding enough to repel the sustained challenge of Gary Carroll’s mount by half a length. Outside of the Lyons duo, Harmony Rose fared best and finished a further length away in third.

The winner was busy at two and was four times runner-up before winning a Dundalk maiden on his eleventh and final start of 2021.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons commented: "Absolutely (pleasing comeback run) for both horses. They are horses that are leading our two-year-olds all winter. They have been training well.

"They were doing us proud all last year, money-spinners. They are doing a job for us. They are handy horses and well rated. In that grade, around those tracks and when they get their ground, they are fun horses for us.

"When they have done their job, they will be fun horses for somebody else. They are adding winners to the board and they are doing their job with the young stock at home.

"He (Jarvis) has strengthened up and his gelding has helped him. He is ticking all the boxes."

Quotes from Michael Graham