The 4/9 favourite King Of The Castle ran out an emphatic winner of the Garryowen Maiden under Seamie Heffernan.

Raised to a mark of 94 after his good second in the Ulster Derby on his previous start, the full-brother to last year’s Derby winner Serpentine tracked the leader Shinpachi (4/1) until heading that one turning into the home straight. McPherson (10/3) moved second and briefly looked a danger two furlongs out, but the winner’s stamina kicked in from that point and he stretched clear to win by four and a quarter lengths, with Shinpachi getting back up for second in the closing stages.

"I'd have been very disappointed if he was beaten," said Heffernan.

"He relaxes so well early on, he seems to stay really well - when they relax real well they usually stay real well.

"He will get further and he stays trying, that's the most important thing."

Quotes from Thomas Weekes