Il Pellegrino prevails despite market drift Despite a notable market drift, Il Pellegrino made the breakthrough on his third start in the opener at Limerick this afternoon, the Regeneron 'Celebrating 10 Years In The Mid-West' Maiden. A fine second on debut at the Curragh, the Joseph O'Brien-trained colt was only third when odds-on at Naas in November. Back in action for the first time since and as short as evens in early shows, the Declan McDonogh ridden victor eventually went off a 5/2 chance. Never far from the pace, the No Nay Never brown was ridden to the front over a furlong from home and kept on well in the closing stages, holding off the effort of Monasterboice by half-a-length. The runner-up was returned a 6/1 chance under Jamie Powell for Noel Meade, with the front pair three and three quarters of a length clear of Settlement (9/4f) in third. ​ "He had been off a while - I'm not sure the reason why, but he is a fine big horse and is progressing," McDonogh revealed. "We'll see what the handicapper does and he looks like the type who will improve. "I had a nice position all the way but when we got to the front, he parked a little bit although had plenty left. He is a fine animal and I'd say he'll go on any ground." STEWARDS REPORTS * A.C. Persse, rider of Ali's Court, trained by M.A.Cahill, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount went right after leaving the stalls. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
