Punk Poet and Ben Coen win another Dundalk handicap for trainer Eddie Lynam. © Photo Healy Racing
Punk Poet appreciated the drop back into the bottom grade when proving far too strong for the opposition in Division l of the Bar One Racing Guaranteed Multiples All Shops Handicap at Dundalk.
The Eddie Lynam trained six-year-old who recorded his most recent win off a rating of 82 at Cork last April, was making his first appearance in the bottom grade after a series of below par runs.
However, having shown that he retained plenty of ability when fourth on his penultimate start at Bellewstown, punters piled into the gelding here, sending him off a well supported 4-1f.
Quickly into stride under Ben Coen, Punk Poet chased leader Geological in the early stages before moving up to challenge entering the straight. Sent for home over two furlongs out, the gelding stayed on strongly to win three-and-a-half lengths.
Eddie Lynam said: "It has been a while since he has been that low (64) and unfortunately he beat an 11-year-old and there was eight lengths back to a three-year-old, so he probably won't be that low again for a while!
"He got the job done but what you would worry about now is that instead of going up a bit, he could go up a lot. Handicappers go on distances.
"It is nice to get his head in front and Aileen loves the old horse.
"He enjoys here and that's his fourth over that trip here."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
