Squire Danagher is driven out © Photo Healy Racing
The maiden for older horses went to the first-time blinkered Squire Danagher in the hands of Bill Lee.
The colt by Australia, sent off 2/1, raced handily and took over in front halfway down the straight where he moved across towards the near side. Immediately challenged on the stands' rail by market rival Carlo Bianconi (4/5 fav), he was always holding that one's challenge inside the final furlong with three-parts of a length between them at the line.
Placed four times previously, the 74-rated winner was getting off the mark at the sixth attempt.
Winning trainer Andy Oliver said: "We thought a bit of this horse last year and then he had a setback. We just had to let him have time to recover. "Although he stripped fitter, I think he had a wee bit too much turkey over Christmas and he just wasn't quite race fit last time. We were quite disappointed.
"Definitely a sharper horse today and the blinkers did help.
"The race went very much to plan and he hit the line well. When the horse came to him, he found again so Billy was very happy with him.
"He travelled well throughout the race and was last off the bridle. When we saw that, we thought he would pick up."
Quotes from Michael Graham
