Toxic earns shot at Group 1

Trainer Pat Flynn has lofty targets with Highly Toxic after he justified good support to run out a cosy winner of the Fethard Maiden at Clonmel.

The Dalakhani gelding was sent off a 1/2 shot (from 4/6) for the ten furlong contest and tracked front-runner Enough Is Enough throughout.

Fran Berry sent his mount on crossing the road at the two pole and he was soon in command.

He kept on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-three-quarters verdict over Tetraites who ran on for second.

The winner had run a big race to finish third in Listed company last time at Limerick and held an official rating of 96.

"He grew too big last year and is only now a horse. He pulled muscles in his back at Tramore last year but he's a very very nice horse," said Flynn.

"It's a big move but he going to run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup next - he's going there and that's it.

"My wife owns him and he runs well in that, he'll run in Royal Ascot, as it's nice if we had one good enough to run."

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)