Ebazziyr just held off the challenge of Carnduff to take the bumper at Down Royal this afternoon, the Archie Watson Memorial Flat Race.

The James Leavy trained five-year-old son of Cape Cross won a bumper on his debut at Gowran in April, and he since performed with credit in two winners bumpers at the Curragh and Tipperary respectively.

Sent off at 7/1 today, the bay gelding made all under Robbie McNamara, asserting over a furlong out and keeping on well under pressure close home to just hold on by a short head.

Newcomer Carnduff (6/1 this morning with Paddy Power, to his starting price of 4/1) for Stuart and Steven Crawford had to settle for second, while Speed Demon who was sent off 4/5 favourite under Jane Mangan for Gordon Elliott, could only manage third, a further five lengths back.

Robbie McNamara said afterwards: “I wasn’t sure if I held on. He didn’t see the other horse or he would have battled back.”

Eoin Leavy, son of James, said afterwards: "Dad was hopeful today, he was unlucky at Tipperary."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham