The 8/11 favourite Backbench Blues won as expected in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden over seven furlongs, for his Jessica Harrington with Fran Berry aboard.

Having put in an eye-catching performance on her debut at Down Royal, running on strongly to finish second behind Slim Chance, the daughter of Big Bad Bob went one place better today getting to the front inside the final furlong before running on well to score by a length and a half.

The second favourite Shukov at 9/2 for Ger Lyons and Johnny Murtagh finished second with the 33/1 shot Spring Up a further half a length back in third for Takashi Kodama and Pat Smullen.

The winner was the second of the day for the sire Big Bad Bob, after Big Bad Lily won the first.

Winning rider Fran Berry said afterwards: "He did it well. He ran green early and had nowhere to go going round the bend but the split came and he battled on well."

Donal Murphy