Calima completes treble for Oxx & Murtagh

Johnny Murtagh & John Oxx had an evening to remember as Red Calima took the finale on the card at Leopardstown, the Avoca Maiden, to complete a near 10/1 treble for the pair.

Having earlier scored with Dawariya in the third and Saddler's Rock in the fifth, the duo were well fancied to make it a treble on the night as Red Calima was sent off the 8/11 favourite.

The winning son of Shirocco, who was the fifth winning favourite of the night, tracked the leaders and was ridden entering the straight. He then made headway under pressure to challenge between horses a furlong out, he soon led and just held off the challenge of Benefit of Porter (12/1) by a head.

Winning trainer John Oxx said afterwards: "He got there, just about. He is still a bit raw. He would probably like a cut in the ground but he got away with it.

"He needs to improve but he will have learned a bit from that. He is still inexperienced and he'll come on from that. I'd be in no rush to run him on that ground again."