"He did that well. The last day I would have liked to get out a bit earlier on him when he finished real good for me," said jockey Ronan Whelan after Specific Gravity got home in front after an exciting conclusion to the iCopy — Office Equipment Specialists Handicap at Dundalk. Red Avenger was eased in the closing stages here to finish four and three parts of a length detached at the back.

Otherwise this could be seen as a triumph for the handicapper as just three and a quarter lengths split the first eight. The Sean Gallagher-owned and Ado McGuinness-trained Specific Gravity was never far away and he got the better of Joseph O'Brien's pair, Song Of Love and Udogo by half a length and the same.

"Today I wanted to get a clean run for him and get him going as well as I could. In fairness to him he stuck his neck out for me when I needed it," added Whelan.

"That's his ideal trip and he loves the surface so everything was in his favour. He had a nice weight and Ado had him in tip-top shape.

"He seems to be thriving on his racing and I don't see why he can't step up again from it. He's going the right way."

(GC & EM)