Emmet Mullins and the Mees added to their gains with Zero Ten here last night as 3/1 favourite St Stephens Green delivered in The Latin Quarter Beginners Chase at Galway. Successor needed to be reshod at the start and the race went off nine minutes late. Chateau Conti A Plein Temps Morgan and Gusty Rocky were all out of the contest before they came up out of the dip first time.

In the end St Stephens Green (we're likely to see him again here on Friday night) led at the last and obliged by two and a quarter lengths from Winter Escape

"He schooled very well at home and we were hoping he'd bring it to the track," said Mullins.

"The two mile two trip was a bit of a worry but he stuck his head out and he was game.

"He was spring-heeled at the last two.

"David (Mullins, winning rider) was confident enough in the horse to give him a squeeze there and he delivered."

Under the provisions of Rule 90 (iii), the Stewards allowed Gangster (FR), trained by Henry de Bromhead, to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the horse was correctly vaccinated in accordance with Rule 91.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Ceide Fields (GB) trained by S.J.Mahon had evidence of equine induced pulmonary haemorrhage when examined post race.

(EM)