Ramon Di Loria proved quite the handful going to the start for Ronan Whelan but it was plain sailing in the Foley's Bar & Off Licence Maiden as he opened his account.

The Tracey Collins-trained son of Dandy Man almost bolted with his rider on the way to post but proved more tractable during the race, run over just shy of six furlongs.

He was settled behind the leaders before moving up to challenge passing the two pole.

The 10/1 shot hit the front turning for home and was always holding 9/4 favourite Eloso late on to score by three-parts-of-a-length.

The winner was making his seasonal debut having last been seen finishing third in a Dundalk maiden last November.

"His run at Dundalk was actually a good run,” said Colins.

“I was quite concerned when I came here and walked the ground when they were saying it was good to yielding because I know he's a good ground horse. But when I actually walked the track it was lovely ground, the last four furlongs were very nice. 

"Ronan gave him a lovely ride and I think he'll go forward from here. We've always liked him. 

"People talk about the lovely bays by Dandy Man who's a bay himself, but we trained this horse's grandmother Lady Alexander who was a chestnut with four white socks so sometimes the grandam comes through in them."

(Quotes by Mark Nunan)