Ocean Conquest justifies favouritism at Punchestown

Ocean Conquest opened his account at the third attempt when justifying favouritism in the Punchestown Maiden and could be stepped up to Stakes company before the end of the season.

The Time Test colt had shown plenty of promise on both previous outings at the Curragh and was prominent throughout here before being kicked on by Dylan Browne McMonagle off the home turn.

The 5/4 favourite kept on strongly inside the final furlong to beat Shamsuddin by a convincing three and a quarter lengths with Rapid Mission a further length back in third.

Winning trainer Michael O’Callaghan said, “I’m delighted to break his maiden tag. He’s a horse we’ve thought a lot of and I was a bit disappointed the last day the way the race worked out as it turned into a bit of a sprint.

“Dylan made it simpler today and grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck early. We told him he’d stay and he just went through the gears with him.

“He said he was plenty green when he got there. He’s a work in progress still and is bred to be a next year horse really.

“He just parked a little but when he got stuck into him, he ran through the line strong and saw it out well. He has loads of ability and mentally just needs to grow up a bit more.

“He’s bred to get a mile and a half next year and he has plenty of pace.

“He’s in the Beresford but he’s had three runs and I might bite the bullet and put him away until next year.”