Safecracker held the determined challenge of Inuit to land the finale at Gowran Park this afternoon. Malabu Drive soon took them along after a couple of furlongs in the mile-and-a-half contest but was claimed by Safecracker, and Ben Coen, under two furlongs from home.

The Johnny Murtagh-trained gelding was made to pull out all the stops by fellow 3/1 joint-favourite inside the final furlong to record a neck success.

Safecracker, owned by Godolphin, was recording his second career success having landed a Dundalk maiden back in July 2021.

Murtagh said:- “It’s nice to get his head in front. I didn’t think it would take that long for him to do it. He works like a nice horse.

“He was a little keen in some races but since we put the hood on him he’s relaxing really well.

“We’ll probably run him in the mile-and-five handicap on Champions Weekend. He’ll probably get an entry in the mile and a quarter race that weekend as well but the way he ran today Ben said he should get a mile-and-five well.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)