
Trainer Ger Lyons left 'gobsmacked' by Howd'yadoit win
Keane, completing a hat-trick for the day, clinched victory on the 13-2 shot – who had only recently claimed his maiden win at Down Royal last month – pipping Unbreakable Duke by the slimmest of margins right at the finish.
However, following a stewards' inquiry into interference, Unbreakable Duke was relegated to third place, with Summer Is Tomorrow bumped up to the runner-up spot.
The British contender Jel Pepper (6-4 favourite) finished in fourth for the duo Paul and Oliver Cole, while Joseph O'Brien's Prix Robert Papin victor Green Sense was pulled out due to unsuitable ground conditions.
Lyons, who previously won this race with Sacred Bridge in 2021 alongside Keane, confessed: "I'm gobsmacked, as I didn't think he'd be good enough.
"What an honest horse, he's been doing it well. We wanted to win a maiden en route to winning a nursery, but he (handicapper) hit him with a mark that I thought was ridiculous for what I felt was a poor maiden.
"We came here because it was a good pot, and I said any bit of the prize-money is grand. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he'd win."
He added: "I'm delighted as Sean's (Jones, owner) horses are now bought for and named by his sons Eddie and James to keep them interested and they are here today. They are the next generation, so it's great.
"Sean has been with me from day one and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy."

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