Cyrus Dallin defied top-weight as he ran out a comfortable winner of the Eurona Brisknet Apprentice Handicap.

Successful on the beach at Laytown last September, the son of Roderic O'Connor was last seen finishing a good third behind stable mate Make A Challenge at the Galway Festival.

Available at 8/1 this morning, the five-year-old victor opened on-course at just 4s, before going off a 7/2 joint-favourite under Alan Glynn (second career success, with his first win coming back in November of 2017).

Settled behind the leaders, the Denis Hogan trained five-year-old came with his challenge on the outer from the two furlong pole.

He soon headed stablemate Never Rains and kept on well inside the final furlong to score by two lengths. Nothing To Lose (10/1) ran on well to take second under Siobhan Rutledge for John McConnell, with the aforementioned Never Rains (5/1) a further three and three parts of a length back in third. Youceeyouceecee was the other joint-favourite and he finished fourth.

"It's great for Alan, who is a hard worker in the yard. He's been with me a while now and is really starting to improve," said Hogan.

"It's great for him to get a winner and he really deserves a chance because he's dedicated, hard working and a pleasure to work with.

"Cyrus won on the beach and had form at Limerick last year on softer ground. He's versatile enough.

"I'm not sure if he'll go back to Laytown, there might be something there for him.

"It's a good syndicate (Westerners Syndicate) of lads from Mayo, they couldn't win an All-Ireland but at least they could win here!

"They paid 11 grand for him last year and he's won twice now and been placed a few times, he was third in Galway to Make A Challenge who has boosted the form.

"I gave him a chance tonight and Alan did exactly what we asked him.

"Hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him.

"The other filly, Never Rains, ran well too. She travelled well and probably the ground might have caught her out a little at the end."

STEWARDS REPORTS

P.A. Harnett, rider of Kasbah trained by Denis Gerard Hogan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount clipped a heel turning in.

The Stewards allowed the late withdrawal of Watchman, trained by A.Oliver from this race after the intended rider A. J. Farragher was stood down following an injury sustained earlier and the trainer was unable to secure any suitable rider as set down in the conditions of this race.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson