Finans Bay off the mark for Halford

Finans Bay continued his rate of improvement to take the Manguard Plus Maiden in Leopardstown, on his fourth start.

Ronan Whelan had him in a lovely position from the gates as the pair tracked the leader Yulong Magicreef in this nine-furlong contest.

They moved to the front swinging in and soon went for home. Astadash made a race of it, though, as she had progressed through the field to chase Finans Bay into the final quarter of a mile.

Finans Bay, the 13/8 favourite, came home the stronger at the business end to oblige by a length and three quarters.

Astadash took the runner-up berth at 9/2. Pin Your Hopes was five length away in third also at 9/2.

“I suppose he had the form and the rating to win it but in those extreme conditions you are never that happy. He coped with it,” said Mick Halford.

“Ronan said the race fell apart a bit and he was there plenty soon enough, but he's a decent horse and he's improving, getting better with every run.

“It's nice to get the maiden out of the way as the year was kicking on. While it wasn't ideal, we thought it was an opportunity for him and we'll step him up in grade now.

“He stepped up from a mile there and I'm sure he'd go another furlong as well, if he needed to, especially on ground that he would like.

“We'll see what the handicapper thinks of that. He's a progressive horse, I like him as he has a great mind and I think he'll only get better.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson