Sacrificial and Gulf Of Poets (inside) go head to head with Father Christmas back in third © Photo Healy Racing
Ger Lyons recorded his first winner of the flat turf season as Sacrificial just got up to win the Racecourse Of The Year Maiden at Leopardstown.
The son of Showcasing was placed on four of his five starts last season and he was gelded since his last run.
Sent off the 15/8 favourite (from 2/1 on-course) he led and disputed with Gulf Of Poets
They were both ridden from the two furlong pole and they had a ding-dong battle from there with Sacrificial getting on top inside the final 50 yards, going on to win by a neck in the colours of Qatar Racing Limited. Father Christmas (11/1) kept on well to take second under Joseph O'Brien for his father Aidan while Gulf Of Poets was a nose back in third under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld.
Gulf Of Poets opened the 13/8 favourite with Paddy Power last night but he proved friendless on track starting at 2/1 before going off an 9/4 chance.
Ger Lyons said afterwards: "He was recently gelded and just needed the op to make him think the way I wanted him to. Hopefully he'll progress.
"He blew up a bit two out which I would expect all mine to. I wanted to start him over a mile. He'll definitely go a mile-and-a-quarter at some stage but we won't rush into it.
"Colin said when he put the stick down he battled away to the line. That will bring him on a ton as you can see the weight he is carrying. He'll be better on better ground."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
