Saoirse stays well to grab maiden win

Spiorad Saoirse stayed on best to get up in the shadow of the post and claim the Claregalwayhotel.ie Irish EBF Maiden at Galway.

8/11 favourite Medal Of Honour proved a disappointment in the seven-furlong contest as he was driven into contention two furlongs out only to fold tamely in the straight and finish fourth. Quizical looked to have done enough when sweeping to the front turning for home but was chased down by Spiorad Saoirse in the closing stages as Declan McDonogh drove his mount to the front in the dying strides.

The 14/1 winner, trained by Andy Slattery, was stepping forward considerably from his debut run at Cork when fifth of seven back in early May.

“He was a bit coltish in Cork so we decided to geld him and he's improved,” said Slattery.

“It was the owners who wanted to come here really, I thought he wanted another two weeks.

“He worked well last Tuesday after working moderately in the Curragh the week before. That's obviously brought him on and there should be improvement to come.

“When he was a colt we were doubting his resolution but he showed it there.

“I thought we hadn't a strong team this year but that's a grand start. The pressure is off me now.

“He has a good pedigree as he was a cast off from the Maktoums. He's a half-brother to a horse of Richard Fahey's called Another Touch.

“He's a good tough hardy horse and looks like he'll get further. I don't know how good he is yet to be honest. I thought he'd need the run today and we'll look for a nursery now.

“He's still a bit green and you'd have to be happy with him. I wasn't sure about the ground either but he's handled everything.”