Flight Command leads home Slieve Bearnagh© Photo Healy Racing
Michael O'Callaghan's Flight Command sluiced home to get off the mark at the fifth time of asking in Gowran Park's mile handicap.
Leigh Roche 's mount raced onto the heels of the leaders with three furlongs to travel. The pair then plotted a wide course upon straightening up and hit the front in the final quarter of a mile.
They had everything bar Slieve Bearnagh beaten off in the final furlong but that challenger gave best in the final 150 yards as Flight Command hit the line a length and a half in charge.
The winner scored at 17/2 from the 5/1 runner-up. The gambled-on Plunkett (25/1 - 14/1) was five lengths adrift in third.
Leigh Roche said: “I don't think any horse wants it that deep, he doesn't even want it that deep, but he jumped, travelled, settled well and did things right today.
“It has taken a while for the penny to drop. He wasn't doing a stroke in the last furlong with me, he had his ears pricked, and there is plenty of improvement in him.
“I think seven (furlongs) or a mile will be no problem for him, he's not slow. The last day was just too far for him. He's going the right way now.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
