Almendares trained by Andy Slattery and ridden by his son and namesake, opened his account at the fourth attempt in the Book Online @DundalkStadium.com Maiden.

The Havana Grey gelding travelled better than anything early in the straight and was just ridden to assert in the closing stages for a length and a quarter verdict over fellow 5/2 joint favourite Heartbeat. Billboa was a further three lengths back in third.

The trainer's brother and assistant Brian Slattery said: "Lovely performance today, he was only about 70 per cent ready the last day. He actually came to win the race the last day and Andrew said he just blew up.

"Today even looked a better race and he bossed it. A fair effort from stall 16 and he won very impressively. You could call him the winner turning into the straight.

"He'll have no bother staying seven (furlongs), he powered up the straight and Andrew said he had plenty of horse left. He loves the sound surface. Onwards and upwards."

Quotes by Michael Graham