The Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle was won by well-supported newcomer Release The Beast

The son of Affinisea, trained by Paul Nolan for Anne Coffey, Susan Spence and Sonja Buckley, was available at 3/1 this morning before being sent off the Even-money favourite. Having tracked the leaders, he jumped to the front at the second-last and just needed to be shaken up on the run-in by Sean Flanagan to beat Mac's Xpress by three and a half lengths.

Nolan said: "We bought him off Harley Dunne after seeing him do a piece of work so fair play to Harley and he has never disappointed us one day. We were just dreading if he might be flashy but Sean was very pleased with him.

"At the end of the day the second-favourite unseated at the first which turned it into a 0-97 rated race so it is impossible to assess. Sean said the same but said he couldn't have won easier.

"All I can say is we are excited by him, however much depth there was to that race."

Quotes from Tom Weekes