Indian Scout (cheek-pieces, red & white colours) prevails in a blanket finish© Photo Healy Racing
He may wear cheek-pieces but there is no doubting that Indian Scout is a tough customer. On outing number three in the Eamonn Wall colours and under the guidance of Eoin Doyle, the former John Murphy-trained four-year-old beat the current Highfort inhabitant Tide Runner by a neck in the Horseware Ireland Handicap.
There was a short head and a head back to Dart Queen (nearest at the finish having been backed) and Word For Word The former was quite a punt on track, finding an S.P. of 9/4 from 6/1.
Wayne Lordan was winning for the second time on Indian Scout, having scored aboard the Indesatchel gelding here five weeks back. Now a married man, Lordan knows he is getting old when he can say he rode Indesatchel himself back in 2005 and 2006.
The County Cork rider (doubling up having won on Penniston Line earlier) said: "I was a bit flat out early on but he was coming back in trip from a mile and a half the last time.
"They went a good gallop but he felt he'd done enough when he got there. I'm told he's bound for hurdling."
Shane Foley, rider of the runner-up, Tide Runner, got a 1-day careless riding ban after an incident where Dancing On Turf got hampered under a furlong out. (AM & EM)