The Barry Fitzgerald-trained Whispering Royal landed a gamble on debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden at Dundalk with overnight quotes of 22/1 supported right down to 11/2 at the off.

Luke McAteer was hard at work early in the straight on the gelded son of Gustav Klimt but he kept on gamely inside the final furlong to hold on by a neck and a head from two promising types.

Both the placed horses, 3/1 joint favourite Sea Of Cortez and 18/1 shot Initial Attempt were on the backfoot after slow starts but caught the eye when coming home to great effect.

Fitzgerald said, "He's a very straightforward horse at home, he's a beautiful horse and he really points his toe well on that surface.

"The owner was pushing to go to Naas and I said to hold off and go to here as he wants better ground. He really pointed his toe here well.

"He was just green out of the stalls, he was very good at home but was just green today. Then he was green wide and just picked up and lengthened on all the time. I'd say there is improvement to come.

"His work is good at home; he was working with three-year-olds and he's only a two-year-old - they were good three-year-olds. He had been showing well against them.

"I won with a nice horse here, Dandy Warhol, and he is the same league as him.

"I'd love to keep everything, but there is a price for everything and we try and keep things rolling."

Quotes by Michael Graham