Prince just prevails in Roscommon opener

Newcomer Kestrel Prince just prevailed in the opener at Roscommon, the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden.

The Ger Lyons trained bay was bought for E42,000 as a yearling, and having opened at 6s on-course, went off a joint-favourite at 9/2.

Settled towards rear on the inner by Colin Keane, the gelded son of Lethal Force came wide into the straight, and was ridden in pursuit of the leaders with under two furlongs to race.

He gained a marginal lead close home, and although he looked headed on camera, the notoriously deceptive angle at Roscommon came into play yet again.

A nose was the official winning margin, with the Tom Cooper trained 50/1 outsider Showmethegin the one just denied.

Alfons Wade was the other joint-favourite (from 11/2), and he was another neck back in third with Colm O'Donoghue aboard for Jessica Harrington.

"I thought we were maybe third, or second at best, so it's a lovely surprise," said Lyons.

"He's a grand little horse and will learn plenty from it. It was as rough a two-year-old race as I've seen and we were out of it thank God.

"That was probably the winning of the race, Colin used his head, took his time and educated the horse.

"I'm delighted for Damien Nolan who is an old owner of mine but is part of this syndicate. I didn't know it but he's just in from France and has his mother here, so it's nice.

"There should be plenty of improvement in him but I'd say the secret was just being out of the schmozzle.

"We'll have a look at a winners race and see if we could go for a premier nursery or something along the line. We'll take what we can and won't get carried away."

STEWARDS REPORTS

D.P. McDonogh, rider of Champagne Marengo trained by J.P. Murtagh, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got no run in the straight.

S. Foley, rider of Man Of The Sea trained by K.J. Condon, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never handled the track.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson