Prince pips Conqueror for second Roscommon win

Kestrel Prince gained a second career and course success at Roscommon today as the Ger Lyons trained gelding landed the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Race under Champion Jockey Colin Keane.

The son of Lethal Force gained an unlikely win, albeit due to the track's notoriously deceiving winning-line camera-angle, in a tight contest on debut in June and was today again confirmed the winner by the judge.

Kestrel Prince passed the a head in front of Dark Conqueror whom he out-battled late-on to provide Keane with his 59th success of the season, nine shy of Championship leader Donnacha O'Brien.

Winning trainer Lyons later said “he was brave; we thought we were third here the first day and we got a pleasant surprise when we won.

“We went down to Killarney and were a tad disappointed but I'd say it'll turn out a hot enough race in hindsight.

“Today under 9st8lbs and giving weight away to everything I thought it was a very brave performance from him. I think he was headed and he put his head down.

“This is a great track to be handy on and I thought both horse and jockey were good. It's a sign of a nice horse to do that.

“He enjoyed the ground, enjoyed the trip and it's two out of three now so it's not a bad performance.

“We'll see what the handicapper does now - he handled that ground and he's a fun horse for the syndicate to have.”

Quotes from Gary Carson