Trinity Force and Gary Carroll (left) get the better of Wateed (right) and Refusetolisten (centre)© Photo Healy Racing
Despite being friendless in the betting, newcomer Trinity Force took the Easter Mid-Term Madness At Dundalk Stadium Median Auction Maiden, scoring under Gary Carroll for Ger Lyons.
Racing in the familiar silks of Sean Jones, the son of Iffraaj opened at 4/1 this morning, but was available at 11/2 on-course before drifting out further to his starting price of 13/2.
Drawn on the outside in stall seven, the chestnut gelding was settled towards the rear, and he raced wide into the straight.
He was ridden along under two furlongs out, and he soon improved, keeping on best under pressure, getting to the front well inside the final furlong, before going on to score by a length and a quarter at the line. Wateed (11/4) attempted to make all under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld, but he had to settle for second, while Refusetolisten (16/1) ran a nice race to take third, a further neck back, under Shane Foley for Mick Halford.
The James Barrett trained Centavof who was available at 6/1 this morning, was the subject of a major gamble.
He was backed from 7/2 to clear 7/4 favouritism on-course, but he was struggling along way out and finished a disappointing sixth.
Ger Lyons said afterwards: "That was grand, he is a nice horse and it is a pity there is no Racing Post bonus!
"I could have run him last year but you can see with the size of him that it was better to wait.
"Seven furlongs is as sharp as he would want. He should get a mile and a quarter and he is a real nice horse."
Lyons went on to talk about the rest of his team, adding: "We are going to kick on now after Punchestown.
"We let the horses have a look at the ground and they are all ready run to now."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
