Ceallach makes the breakthrough under Whelan

Ceallach made the breakthrough on his sixth start, as he just got the better of Regally Blonde in the William Hill Racing Radio Maiden.

A good third on his second outing at Navan in March, the Mick Halford trained chestnut had been a bit disappointing since and was sent off a 3-1 chance this afternoon.

Settled in mid-division by Ronan Whelan, he was poised behind the leaders in fourth on the approach to the straight.

He improved into a share of the lead from the two-furlong pole and was soon engaged in a tussle with the aforementioned Regally Blonde.

The Paul Rooney owned victor just got the better of the argument in the closing stages, prevailing by a head.

The runner-up was returned a 6-1 chance under Gary Carroll for Andy Oliver, while newcomer Rockview Consort (16-1) was a further four-and-a-quarter lengths back in third. Rosso Corsa nbsp;was sent off the 5-4 favourite and she faded tamely in the straight, eventually finishing a well-beaten fifth.

Whelan said in the aftermath: "On his homework and his third at Navan, we didn't think it would take this long to get a bracket for him. It wasa good run at Navan.

"He pinged off the surface and felt like a different horse today. He has options as well, he is versatile trip-wise so it is nice to get the job done with him.

"He definitely has a future, particularly on that surface."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham