Intisaab (left) beats Chiclet© Photo Healy Racing
Intisaab stayed on best in the closing stages to land the spoils in the opening Tote Jackpot Guarantee Maiden at Listowel. Chiclet cut out the running in the six-furlong contest and looked to be travelling best turning for home.
Pat Smullen drove the even-money favourite up to challenge over a furlong out, however, and his stamina told inside the final furlong.
Dermot Weld 's charge went on to record a three-parts-of-a-length success in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
The stewards had a look afterwards with the winner leaning in slightly on the runner-up inside the final furlong but the result stood.
“He thought long and hard about it up the straight. In fairness the second filly was getting all the weight and she's not a bad little filly. I thought our lad would out-stay her,” said Smullen.
“He probably wants a bit more ease in the ground but it was a good opportunity and thankfully we got it. It's good ground - it's lovely ground to be fair.”
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
