Could Be King a Sovereign ruler

Top-weight Could Be King swooped to conquer the seven furlong Sovereign Path Premier Handicap in Leopardstown.

The 14/1 chance, with 10 stone on his back, thundered home down the centre of the track to get up in the final strides.

He obliged by three parts of a length from Lord Rapscallion (25/1) who had hit the front himself in the closing stages. Real Appeal (50/1) and Big Baby Bull (25/1) rounded out the placings in third and fourth respectively.

Trainer Ken Condon said: “It's a very important weekend, so it's good to get on the board.

“It was a good performance off 101. We got up to 104 after his first run for us in a Listed race, but that reads well now as Ancient Spirit won that.

“The last day Chris (Hayes) was adamant that the ground found us out in Naas. I had him down as myself as a horse that wanted soft ground, incorrectly as it turns out. Maybe it was a bit tacky in Naas.

“That was a very good performance and Billy gave him a good ride from a difficult draw.

“He angled him out in the straight, so he had a clear run of it. The horse got a bit of confidence and went to the line well.

“We think he can win a Listed or Group 3, but it'll be next year before we find that out. If things go his way he could be capable of mixing it in that kind of company next year.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson