Masucci loving life on the sand

Masucci kept finding for Colin Keane to get up in the final strides and win Dundalk's seven furlong rated race.

The son of Zoffany was in sixth place of the seven runners outside the quarter mile marker.

Keane switched him wide as the pair passed that pole and they started to cut into the lead.

In the final furlong Andesh was hanging on from Paint but it was Masucci who finished best down the outside to land the spoils by a neck for trainer Ger Lyons.

He certainly didn't go unbacked at the track as punters forced his price down from 9/2 to 3/1.

Paint, in second, was well punted during the day (25/1 to 12/1) before going off at 14s.

Andesh was a head further back in third in a driving finish.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: "He's been training well over the winter, from a good break and looking well.

“He grew and he's a very good-looking horse. Colin rode him full of confidence and he's after loving that.

“He's a good-ground horse so it'll either be back here or freshen him up again. We'll keep him sweet.

“We ran him back a bit soon on soft ground last year. We've gelded him and that helped him.

“He's had a big smile on his face all winter and I think the secret with him is to keep him nice and fresh and sweet.”

Masucci had been gelded since his last run at the Curragh in September.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson