Pyromaniac lands on-course gamble

The Tommy Stack trained Pyromaniac landed an on-course gamble as he took division one of the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap.

Ridden by Wayne Lordan, the three-year-old son of Invincible Spirit was 9/2 this morning with Paddy Power, but he opened on-course at 8/1 before being well-supported into 9/2 favouritism at the off.

On just his second start in handicap company, the bay colt chased the leaders for much of the contest, and he was being pushed along over three furlongs out.

He responded well to pressure in the straight, as he came with his challenge on the outside over a furlong from home.

He hit the front around 200 yards out, and he kept on from there to score by half a length at the line. Royal Beauty finished back in second at 20/1 under Danny Grant for Joanna Morgan, while Maontri (8/1) was a further three parts of a length back in third under Johnny Murtagh for Mattie Tynan.

Wayne Lordan said afterwards: "He loved the surface. He had a couple of runs on very soft ground and he didn’t handle it.

"We gave him a little break and we said we’d leave him for here as wants real good ground.

"He had a good mark. He won well. He is a bit babyish but he is a fine good looking horse and hopefully he should improve."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson