After finishing second at Tipperary last Saturday the Dermot Weld trained Initial went one place better in the opener at Leopardstown this evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2yo Maiden.

The Sheikh Mohammed owned son of Invincible Spirit opened at 11/10 on-course before going off the clear 6/5 favourite.

Ridden by Pat Smullen he made all and he was ridden to assert a furlong and a half from home.

Newcomer Hunt and Rule The Waves chased him down inside the final furlong but he just held on to prevail by a nose.

The aforementioned Hunt had to settle for second under Niall McCullagh for Johnny Murtagh at 6/1 while Rule The Waves was a further neck back in third.

Dermot Weld said afterwards: "He battled well and he got a strong ride from Pat Smullen. He’ll go for a Nursery now."

Pat Smullen added: “He got the trip well. I was always going to make use of him as he is a good fit little horse.

"I wasn’t confident in the last 50 yards but he stuck his head out and he hit the line well."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson