The opening race of the two day Roscommon meeting, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, produced an exciting finish with Ben Curtis just getting the 9/4fav Sportsmaster up for Andy Oliver to deny Sam Bass by a short head.

The son of Ad Valorem was having his seventh career start here having put in some decent efforts in defeat, most notably when finishing second to Secretsubstitute over the course and distance last month.

The winner and the runner-up disputed the lead from over a furlong out and although it looked from the poor angle at Roscommon like Sam Bass had just held off the favourite, the judge called it in favour of Sportsmaster to the delight of favourite backers.

The runner up, Sam Bass, who opened at 6/1 this morning came in for some support and was sent off the 9/2 joint second favourite for Noel Meade and Ronan Whelan. Noble Call also a 9/2 shot finished a further length and a half back in third.

Afterwards winning trainer Andy Oliver, who was recording his ninth win of the season said: "I was very hopeful coming here. He needed the run when second here last month and he was then just behind Apache (who finished third, Irish Review won that race) at the Curragh on his last start.

"He will step up in trip to a mile and a half now and we will go handicapping with him."