Beckman gets Lyons and Keane off to winning start

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane drew first blood on Irish Derby weekend, with newcomer Beckman finishing strongly from off the pace to win the opening Cunningham's Of Kildare Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh.

Despite being sent off a 20/1 outsider, the son of Beckford made an impressive start to his career when proving too strong for some well fancied rivals.

Held up in the initial stages of the contest, Keane adopted a watching brief, as Mount Parnassus and Snapdragon went head to head up front. East Hampton tracked the pace in third, looking the most likely winner at the furlong pole.

However, as the fast early pace began to take its toll, it was the closers, led home by Beckman who picked up the pieces late on.

Leading over 50 yards from the finish, the Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd owned colt beat Distant Seas by three-quarters-of-a-length.

Ger Lyons said: “He's a nice horse. I was a little bit taken aback when I saw the yearling allocation and I saw what he was by. I was disappointed I didn't geld the sire when I had him!”.

“The horse has always shown he was a nice horse and it just goes to prove to you that every horse gets a horse.

“He's been very slow in coming and he had a winter coat for a while. Then about three or four weeks ago I said that this horse wins a seven-furlong maiden and he's ready for a start.

“I thought he won nicely. They went a million and he hit the line strong, which was the way we wanted.

“I like starting them at the Curragh, I thought he'd run well and we'll win our seven-furlong maiden somewhere but he's after taking it all in well and we won't say no to a winner.

“I have to congratulate Maurice on breeding him, especially doing it with his own sire. No doubt he'll be getting a long string of mares to be covered by Beckford!

“Sadly he's not here. He was there on Wednesday and had his winner and we've had another winner for him so we're delighted with that.

“We'll take this horse home and watch him. The colts are behind the fillies I'd say and we'll see where we go with them.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.