Zephron goes a place better a week on

Beaten just half-a-length into second at Listowel last Tuesday, Zephron went a place better in the concluding Follow Us On Twitter Handicap.

Recording his first success in over two-years, the Denis Cullen-trained six-year-old was sent off an 11/2 chance under Leigh Roche.

Drawn out wide and towards rear in the early stages, the Ivawood bay made gradual progress on the outer and was ridden to the front over a furlong from home.

Soon pressed by Breezy Zoff (9/2f), he battled on gamely in the closing stages to see off the Gavin Cromwell-trained market leader by half-a-length.

Returned at 12/1, Swiss Army Officer who had every chance inside the final furlong, was another three-parts-of-a-length back, with Tasmanian Girl (14/1) a further length-and-a-quarter away in fourth.

"He won a Curragh handicap under Denis' daughter Annalise a couple of years ago but that's his first win for me," winning owner and on-course bookmaker Colm White commented.

"I got him late last year and he was unlucky in Galway but lost his form at the back-end of the year.

"We put him away and gave him a chance as he wants soft ground. We had a good few quid on him in Gowran two runs back and he was just denied at Listowel last week when he may have been a little ring-rusty.

"He is a good genuine handicapper on soft ground and was pulling himself up in the last half-furlong. If Gary (O'Gorman, handicapper) isn't too hard on him hopefully he'll go on again.

"It's great for Denis and Annemarie who are great people."

STEWARDS REPORTS

G.M. Ryan, rider of Asisaid trained by P.J.F. Murphy, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away from the starting stalls.

C.J. MacRedmond, rider of Golden Warrior trained by T.J. O'Mara, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung left throughout.

J. Kearney, rider of Corballis Flyer trained by John Joseph Hanlon, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung left in the straight.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes