Dermot Weld's Ebendi showed his mettle to get the better of Pugin in the colts and geldings' median auction maiden at Killarney.

Pugin, the 4/6 'jolly', was soon sent into the lead by Shane Crosse who dictated the pace throughout this extended mile and three furlongs.

The leader was ridden passing the two pole and had all bar Ebendi in trouble, The latter came out of the pack and moved into a threatening position racing to the final furlong.

Ebendi grabbed Pugin inside the final furlong, but it was nip and tuck until the closing stages where Ebendi went on by half a length at 17/2.

The pair had the race to themselves at the business end as Watchmen came in six lengths adrift in third at 6/1 having been gambled from 14/1.

Jockey Oisin Orr said: "He is lazy but put his head down and tried today. The step up in trip definitely helped and hopefully he can win again; I'd say he could definitely step up further in trip again."

Ebendi, in the first-time cheekpieces, was stepping up on 14th on debut in a big field at Naas last month.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes