“I think he could be half-decent” was assistant trainer Brendan Powell's appraisal of Behind Enemy Lines today, as he ran out a rare impressive January winner of Dundalk's Wednesday Racing At Dundalk Maiden.

The son of Sioux Nation finished mid-field in a previous Curragh maiden run in August and today returned the heavily supported 1/1 favourite (from 9/4 this morning) and sprinted away from eight rivals, under jockey Hugh Horgan.

Horgan was completing a double for his cousin trainer Joseph O'Brien, whose assistant Powell added “Joseph liked him when he went to the Curragh but he's a big horse, was quite weak and the ground was tacky. He just got a bit lost.

“Now he's only starting to mature. It might not have been the greatest race in the world but he was impressive. I think he will go on.

“He has a lovely action and for a big horse he has got plenty of speed as well. Six furlongs is good for him and there is no reason why he wouldn't stay further."

Quotes from Gary Carson