Case a comfortable winner for O'Callaghan

Case Statement ran out to a comfortable winner of the second at Limerick, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, scoring under Fergal Lynch.

Trained by Michael O'Callaghan, the son of Showcasing finished ninth on his debut at Fairyhouse recently over six furlongs on yielding to soft ground.

Having opened at 6/1 this morning, the bay colt was clearly expected to go better on the quick ground, as he was backed on-course from 5's to 4's (touched 7/2).

After leading in the early stages he was settled behind the leaders and was third entering the straight.

He was ridden along under two furlongs out and he soon hit the front, going on inside the final furlong to score comfortably by three and a quarter lengths. Ice Echo who led from over four furlongs out, kept on to take second at 9/2 under Emmet McNamara for Ger Lyons, while Athenry Boy (25/1) ran a fine race on his debut to take third, a further length and a quarter back under Gearoid Brouder for Jim Gorman.

Newcomer Soebroto was sent off the 11/4 favourite for David Wachman and Wayne Lordan but he could only manage a disappointing eighth.

Michael O’Callaghan said afterwards: "We have no plans for him, that's his maiden out of the way.

"We have always liked him and we knew he wanted seven furlongs on proper good ground. Faster again would even suit him and another furlong would be even better.

"He could be anything. He is so laid back and he doesn’t do a whole lot at home.

"He (Fergal Lynch) didn’t touch him, he just went through the motions and he is fresh coming back in there.

"He is by a great sire in Showcasing and he is on fire at the moment."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson