Speed set for a hefty hike

Deep Speed made a mockery of the handicapper when routing his eight rivals in the mile handicap at Dundalk.

The son of Invincible Spirit built up a sequence of placed efforts before finally scoring here last month, and has obviously now got the winning habit.

Conor Hoban got him into a prominent position from an outside draw, and the contest was soon over after he was set alight early in the straight.

Paul Hickey’s charge drew right away under strong driving and had all of seven and a half lengths to spare at the line over fellow 7/2 joint favourite Iron Major Ningaloo Reef completed the placings in third.

Hickey said, “I think he’s learning the more racing he’s getting. A couple of people called him ungenuine but I think it was just greenness and he’s improving the whole time.

“Getting his head in front has done him the world of good. He might get a bit of a break now and come back in a couple of months but I’ll have to talk to the owner.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson