Leopardstown's curtain-raising Flat Is Back Maiden was today won by Hotel Wren which finished well for a short-head win, for trainer Noel Meade and jockey Oisin Orr.

The gelded son of Dragon Pulse was under pressure in third early in the home straight but soon quickened past 13/8 favourite Point Gellibrand and edged ahead of Janoobi at the line for a last-gasp success.

Hotel Wren was having his third career start and his first of 2022 and Meade later said “he was working well but when you come to Leopardstown you say to yourself that you are probably running into group horses.

“He hit the line well and Oisin said he'll go even further, he said he was only starting to run when he got there.

“He's a Dragon Pulse, a lot of them want a cut in the ground but that fella goes well on top of the ground. He's a great mover. He was just touched off last year in Cork and he learned a good bit from his couple of runs.

“I haven't thought any further than today, we'll have a think about it and see what happens.”

Quotes from Gary Carson