Anyone that backed Zarkiyr at odds against this morning (returned 4/7) could doubtless empathise with Michael Halford's, "no wonder I've no hair left," quip as the odds-on chance (fourth winning favourite from five races) made heavy weather of taking the Follow @TipperaryRaces On Twitter Maiden under Declan McDonogh.

John Murphy 's outsider, Cardinal Palace looked like he'd go and win when bettering pace-setter Waver but he didn't find what he promised as the tail-swishing Zarkiyr eventually hit top gear to score by a length and a half.

Halford divulged: "He's lazy and he only does enough but he'd be more suited to a galloping track.

"He only hit top gear in the final furlong.

"He'll go to the July Sales in Newmarket and I doubt he'll run in the meantime." (TW & EM)