Ebazziyr holds off Carnduff in the bumper

Ebazziyr just held off the challenge of Carnduff to take the bumper at Down Royal this afternoon, the Archie Watson Memorial Flat Race.

The James Leavy trained five-year-old son of Cape Cross won a bumper on his debut at Gowran in April, and he since performed with credit in two winners bumpers at the Curragh and Tipperary respectively.

Sent off at 7/1 today, the bay gelding made all under Robbie McNamara, asserting over a furlong out and keeping on well under pressure close home to just hold on by a short head.

Newcomer Carnduff (6/1 this morning with Paddy Power, to his starting price of 4/1) for Stuart and Steven Crawford had to settle for second, while Speed Demon who was sent off 4/5 favourite under Jane Mangan for Gordon Elliott, could only manage third, a further five lengths back.

Robbie McNamara said afterwards: “I wasn’t sure if I held on. He didn’t see the other horse or he would have battled back.”

Eoin Leavy, son of James, said afterwards: "Dad was hopeful today, he was unlucky at Tipperary."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham