No living with Duke and Hayes

Chris Hayes soon had Duke Of Medina playing a prominent role from his wide draw, and those tactics took the Rock Of Gibraltar gelding all the way to victory in the Shelbourne Handicap at Wexford.

The blinkered three-year-old whizzed down the hill to take over from three furlongs out and Hayes asked him to go and confirm his superiority from the two furlong pole.

He may carry the head-gear but Duke Of Medina wasn't found wanting up the straight as he kept up the gallop to gain the day by three lengths from Nueva

"I'm delighted for the syndicate (the RRR grouping) as they've been patient with him. He has probably been a little bit frustrating for them at times but he is just a late maturing, staying type of horse, and they are going to have a lot of fun with him," said winning trainer Paul Deegan.

"He'll go to Tramore or Roscommon for a three-year-old hurdle and he will have a very live chance. He should win another one of them so there are loads of options for him. He jumps very well.

"He'll be sold. He was in the sales but it's just pure luck that he had a drop on his foot, otherwise he would have been sold two weeks ago.

"He's on the market and he is just a lovely, straight-forward late maturing type of horse. He'll be a lovely horse for next year and he is only learning about racing. He's a really well-balanced horse and he doesn't mind the ground."

The Stewards requested a report from P.D. Deegan, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Duke Of Medina, placed first, as compared with its recent form.

P.D. Deegan reported that he could not offer any explanation for the poor run at Leopardstown 18th June other than his charge is laid back and has to be ridden strongly and consequently was in contention a long way out at Leopardstown whereas today the pace of the race suited better.

He also added that his horses have recently hit form with two winners in the last two days having gone almost a month without success. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

(DM & EM)