On his first start under Flat rules the Maurice Phelan trained Alhellal scored at the game he was bred for (bred by Aga Khans Studs) at the odds of 14/1 under Kevin Manning.

The 6yo son of Kalanisi has shown plenty of good form under National Hunt rules winning a bumper at Roscommon in June and a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe in August of last year.

However having disappointed on his last two efforts he switched to the level today and duly obliged on what was his second start of 2012.

After tracking the leaders early on he was then pushed along in fourth as they entered the straight. He went second two furlongs from home hitting the front a furlong out, keeping on best under pressure to score by a length. Mundher for Denis Cullen and Johnny Murtagh ran well to take second at 11/2 just a short head in front of the gamble of the race Roe Deer backed from 9/2 this morning into 2/1 favourite at the off, who had to settle for third despite hitting the front and looking the likely winner two furlongs from home.

Winning trainer Phelan said afterwards: "He has worked up here a few times and he loves the surface. He worked well over a mile and four here last week so we were hopeful coming here today.

"It was a good performance, he did it well and Kevin was very happy with him.

He disappointed over hurdles last time out but he will probably go back over them in time. He will go for a two mile race on the flat next.

"The owner Mahmoud Abdulkhaleq is a Palestinian man who is based in London. He has been a client of mine for years." (DM & GC)