Fourteenth time luck for Jim as Curia flops

On his fourteenth career start Jimtown finally got off the mark in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden for Declan McDonogh and Kevin Prendergast as the gambled on favourite Curia Regis disappointed.

Jimtown, who was returned a 4/1, tracked the leaders early on before hitting the front three furlongs from home.

He was ridden clear a furlong and a half out and kept on well from there to record a comfortable four and a half-length victory. Leyland for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen plugged on to take second at 14/1 on his second career start while Top Man Michael was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third under Emmet McNamara for Noel Meade at 10/1.

The gamble of the race, Curia Regis for David Marnane Fergal Lynch, opened at 4/1 this morning but was well supported throughout the afternoon and opened on track at 11/8.

He was backed into 6/4 clear favouritism at the off but could never land a blow and finished a very disappointing fifth while the second favourite Miss Forde at 11/4 was a place further back in sixth

The winning 3yo son of Avonbridge was having just his second start of 2012 having made his seasonal reappearance at Killarney recently where he finished a close fifth behind Van Rooney.

Winning rider Declan McDonogh said afterwards: "He was the highest rated horse in the field but no one fancied him. He enjoys being positively ridden so I wanted to get upsides early and he stayed on well."

The winner is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Imperial Dancer and Listed winner Lafite.

After the race the Turf Club vet reported to the stewards that the favourite Curia Regis was blowing hard post race, while his rider Fergal Lynch reported that he never travelled.

Donal Murphy & Thomas Weekes