Lyons team eye Ebor for Nickajack Cave

Nickajack Cave relished the step up in trip to a mile and six furlongs when coming home strongest in the Listed Saval Beg Lesmoss Stakes in Leopardstown.

The 12/1 shot was held up in rear by Colin Keane and, indeed the pair were slightly detached but travelling well, after half a mile.

They latched onto the other six runners at the halfway point as Oriental Eagle dictated the pace.

The leader enjoyed a two-length lead racing past the four pole but the main protagonists closed him down with three furlongs to travel.

A driven Twilight Payment went on entering the home straight, however, Nickajack Cave began to close inside the final quarter of a mile and collared the 15/8 favourite coming to the final furlong.

He was kept up to his work to take the spoils by a length and a half for trainer Ger Lyons.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “Colin was brilliant on him. He was drawn wide and said he’d drop him in as he always felt there was going to be pace in the race and let him enjoy himself.

“For the first couple of furlongs he thought the ground was going to be a bit quick for him but he’s warmed up into it lovely. He latched on three furlongs out and Colin said he felt like a really good horse.

“This horse and Bucky Larson have been companions of Siskin so he deserves this. The way he’s won there the plan could be to go to York for the Ebor. He’s after getting that trip well.

“He doesn’t want extremes in going and he should get further as well which would open up a few doors.”

Lyons also gave an update on Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Skiskin: “Siskin lost a bit of weight but he ate his dinner on Friday night and was bucking and kicking the next day. To win a race like that you are going to have a hard race no matter what but he is well.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee