O'Brien on the mark again as Gold seals victory

Joseph O’Brien continued his rich vein of form when sending out Gold Seal to take the opening www.roscommonracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle.

The well-bred Galileo gelding had been knocking on the door over the past month when placed three times in similar events, and was supported on track from 7/2 into 5/2 favourite.

Chief market rival Tenth Amendment proved the main threat but Barry Geraghty’s mount wore him down on the run-in to score by three quarters of a length.

The pair stretched three and three quarter lengths clear of Desert Grey in third.

Winning owner JP McManus' manager Frank Berry said, "It is nice to get it and he has been consistent and he jumped great today. He battled and got there and he had plenty of experience and it stood to him on the day. We'll find a little handicap for him next."

The Piltown trainer was maintaining his record of almost a winner a day over the past three weeks (18 winners in 21 days) under both codes.

(TW & AM)