Defence Of Duress came with a powerful run coming to the last to join issue with Ring Ben before staying on well to land the Thomastown Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles at Gowran Park.

Andrew McNamara was on board the Tom Taaffe-trained four-year-old who had been a beaten favourite when second to Sizing Machine in a two mile maiden hurdle at Down Royal in August.

He had previously been third at Downpatrick in a two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle and those experiences saw him step up in trip and win this 20-runner contest by a neck at odds of 10/3 from 33/1 chance Ring Ben. Easy Mate finished strongly for third in the hands of Robbie Power at 14/1, beaten a length and three parts by the runner-up.

Tom Taaffe said: “The horse is in a lot better shape than I am! I have the flu and nearly didn’t come today.

“We stepped him up to two and a half miles and the much improved ground was in his favour.

“We’ll see what the handicapper does, but we’ll look at something over a trip on decent ground.” Sky Pilot was the gamble of the race from 9/2 to 3/1 favourite in the betting ring, however the money was lost as he came in 10th. Tasitiocht was easy to back from 11/4 to 7/2 for Willie and Patrick Mullins, but she fell at the fifth when in mid-division.

(on course reporting by Alan Magee)