Eye Van (6/4 - 2/1 favourite) deservedly and belatedly got off the mark in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Down Royal.

The Yeats gelding will be turning nine in a few days time, and here on his second outing for Ray Cody he was delivered down the inner by Niall Moore to account for Jimmy Chou Pecos (11/1) and Sam Magee (9/4) by four lengths and a length and a quarter.

Said Moore afterwards of the former Miguel Gunn performer: "He had (very solid form), he had Grade 3 novice form. He's an improving horse away and he would have come on from the run the last day.

"He's going the right way now and he's a nice horse. He's a very tough horse.

"That's (the finish) where he would be doing his best work because he never races too keenly, he's always really relaxed. He's a solid block of a horse, a lovely horse to have for the boys.

"Ray kept it very simple to me - he said to be in the first four or five and he should be bang there. He said he might hit a little bit of a flat spot and he will go on again.

"That's my eighth winner."

Sam Ewing, rider of Smooth Player trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount stopped quickly and was pulled up.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Smooth Player, trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be clinically abnormal.

J.P. O'Sullivan, rider of Cosmo Renfro trained by Shane Nolan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount burst a blood vessel during this race.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Cosmo Renfro, trained by Shane Nolan, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to have blood at the nostrils post race.

B.W. Harvey, rider of Jimmy Chou Pecos Aa (FR) trained by John C. McConnell, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung left up the straight.

The Raceday Stewards interviewed B.W. Harvey, rider of Jimmy Chou Pecos Aa (FR), concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence, B.W. Harvey admitted that he had exceeded the guidelines for frequency but stated that he had used some of the hits for corrective purposes. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that B.W. Harvey was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Raceday Stewards suspended B.W. Harvey for one raceday.

(MG & EM)