Farmleigh House (hooped cap) just holds off Via Ballycroy© Photo Healy Racing
Ger Lyons' lightly raced three-year-old Saxo Jack dropped into handicap company for the first time and earned connections a rich reward in the feature race at Dundalk.
Winner of a Leopardstown maiden on his third career start last month, the 7-1 shot was never far off the pace in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Red God' Handicap and found a nice gap a furlong and a half out to hit the front.
Top-weight Steps To Freedom having a prep run for the Ebor, put in a terrific finish from the rear but could not peg back the leader, who held on by half a length in the hands of Gary Carroll.
Dundalk six-furlong specialist Farmleigh House (10-1) put up a fine weight-carrying performance to take the Bar One Racing Mourne Handicap in a thrilling finish.
Niall McCullagh hit the front a furlong out on Willie Martin's six-year-old, who was all out to hold the charging Via Ballycroy by a short head as they flashed past the post together. The winner heads to Newmarket next weekend for a Listed contest.
David Wachman's 11-10 favourite Pleasant Bay made the most of his chance in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden after market rival Sniper reared in the stalls and lost valuable ground in the six-furlong contest.
Wayne Lordan, back from duty in Chicago on Saturday night, held third position for most of the way and grabbed Wateed inside the final furlong before taking the prize by half a length.
The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden was won in eyecatching style by the Dermot Weld-trained Flying Jib (6-4), who powered clear from the furlong pole to reverse debut form with long-time leader Tap Dancing winning by four and a quarter lengths under Pat Smullen.
The jockey doubled up when the Tracey Collins-trained Balmont Belle (12-1) got the better of a ding-dong battle with odds-on favourite Orator to take the Bar One Racing Telebetting 1800 624 524 Maiden by three-quarters of a length.
