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Merry Mast has plenty smiling at Dundalk

Fri 21st Mar 2014, 19:53

Merry Mast (Billy Lee, just in front) held off Amazing Star (Seamie Heffernan, nearside) at DundalkMerry Mast (Billy Lee, just in front) held off Amazing Star (Seamie Heffernan, nearside) at Dundalk
© Photo Healy Racing

After the eclipse of two well-backed market-leaders, Andy Slattery's Merry Mast came to the rescue of favourite backers in the third on the polytrack, the Champions Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

In first-time cheek-pieces Merry Mast (100/30 into 2/1 on course) got a lovely ride from the ever impressive Billy Lee and he always looked happy on the American-bred.

However when fellow County Tipperary runner Amazing Star (very well-punted also) came with a storming run from over a furlong out he looked a likely winner.

Hailing from a yard that set Cheltenham hero Faugheen on the road to stardom, Merry Mast pulled out enough to ward off the danger by a head.

Slattery reflected: "I thought he'd have won before now and the money has been down before.

"He only cost fifteen hundred and I said he'd win a race so the pressure is off now.

"His owner Michael Quinlan is a son in law of the late Michael Purcell (of Buck House fame).

"That's a bit of a monkey off my back as all the horses were sick over the winter." (AM & EM)