Levins' stalwart strikes at Dundalk

Prisoner's Dilemma (20/1) recorded his first win for over two years when landing the 47-70 handicap over seven furlongs.

Successful off a mark of 103 at the Curragh in August 2022, the Toronado gelding had slipped down to a rating of 68 and, in a messy contest, was kept wide and out of trouble by Donagh O'Connor to beat Mags by half-a-length.

Johnny Levins said of Epitome Racing's winner: “Fair play to the handicapper, he's given him a chance. He has a bit of age about him now and he had a bit of a lull for most of the year.

“I'm absolutely delighted with that, it's been a while between drinks with him.

“We were quietly confident coming here as he had been starting to show a little bit of sparkle at home.

“We kind of thought we were getting him back into the groove and hoping this place would light him up as well as a lot of his form was here.

“I was happy to ignore his last couple of runs as the ground went for him in Naas but I just needed to get him out and get him racing.

“It wasn't all lost with those runs, even though they looked poor, as they probably brought him to the level that I needed him at with his fitness.

“Hopefully we can re-group and find a similar race with him. He's had a light campaign this year and is a very sound horse so I'd imagine we'll be here for the winter.

“He might get a couple of turf runs first in the meantime but he'll dance away up here.”

Quotes from Gary Carson