"He didn't handle the real firm ground last time. Ideally he wants good ground and he didn't really handle that ground either," acknowledged Chris Hayes after Jefferson Davis proved best of the sextet in the Korea Racing Authority Handicap at Leopardstown.

The Kevin Prendergast trained Duke Of Marmalade gelding had been visored in the past, and wearing blinkers on this occasion the 5/1 chance (from 6s) got the best of things after staying on well in the final furlong having been pushed along entering the straight. He prevailed by a length and three parts over Camile Pinwood meanwhile, saw the mile out very well to be a length and a half off the front pair in third.

"It was a shrewd move by the boss to put the blinkers back on. If he (the handicapper) isn't too hard on him we should have plenty of fun with him during the summer," added Hayes.

(GC & EM)