"He was dropped to 65 and was back in his class tonight. He's been running consistently, and the handicapper gave him a chance. I was a bit concerned about carrying ten stone but he's done it well," was trainer Natalia Lupini's reaction after her Alnahar (3/1 favourite) took the closing Marshes Shopping Centre Handicap (division two) at Dundalk.

Ronan Whelan was aboard Alnahar and he always had the market-leader in the firing line.

Backed in from 4/1, Alnahar got to the front narrowly under pressure well inside the final furlong, keeping on well for a half length win over Hello Humpfrey

The runner-up was slowly into his stride and he was pushed along and detached in rear early.

Switched out to deliver a bid but still towards the back over a furlong out, he ran on well under Sean Davis into a never nearer second close home.

R. Coakley, rider of Like A Prayer (GB) trained by Garvan Donnelly, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was lame post race.

C.R. King, rider of The Dancing Lord (GB) trained by Liam P Cusack, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount clipped heels in running.

C.T. Keane, rider of Song Of The Sky (GB) trained by John Joseph Murphy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount lost her action two furlongs out.

(AM & EM)