The Mcgregornator delivers knockout blow

The Mcgregornator got up in the closing stages to deny the favourite Callender in the opener at the Curragh, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The Adrian Keatley trained son of Bushranger was sent off a 16/1 chance (available at fancies prices this morning and backed from 20's on-course) after finishing eleventh on his debut over the course and distance last month.

Callender went off the 4/7 favourite after he finished a good third in the same maiden.

Today's race looked to be going according to plan with two furlongs to go as the market leader travelled best in front.

He looked set for victory inside the final furlong but tired in the closing stages, as The Mcgregornator, who raced in second, stayed on best, getting up to score by half a length under Gary Carroll.

Adrian Keatley, who also owns the winner, said afterwards: "He lost his action coming out of the stalls the last day and Gary minded him. The more you get stuck into him, the more he finds.

"He liked that ground and was probably the most effective on it today. He'll get six furlongs, and maybe even seven."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Stewards requested a report from Adrian Paul Keatley, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of The Mcgregornator, winner, as compared with his first run here at the Curragh on March 20th, where he finished 11th of 12 horses beaten 16 lengths.

The trainer reported that on the horses first run, he never really travelled and he was all at sea early in the race, with his inexperience showing.

Today, he showed the benefit of normal improvement that comes with having a run and he broke and travelled better early in the race. He can be a lazy horse at home and he showed the benefit of getting a strong drive from the halfway stage, coming off the bridle early but staying on well to the line better than the others.

Having considered the evidence, the Stewards noted the explanation offered.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee