An inch is as good as a mile as they say but doubtless anyone on Zakhm at odds of 1/5 would have appreciated things being a bit easier for the son of Marju in the Rainbow Communications European Breeders Fund Median Auction Maiden at Down Royal.

It appears the twice previous runner-up, Kevin Prendergast's Zakhm, didn't appreciate the turning nature of the track at the business end, but he found enough inside the last to edge out Ubiquitous Mantle by half a length.

Winning rider, Chris Hayes explained: "It's a tricky track and he's a lovely big long-striding horse.

"He was never not going to get there but he got a bit unbalanced.

"He was perfect on the ground.

"It's been a while since I had a winner in these colours (those of Hamdan Al Maktoum)."

The Limerick rider's last success in the famous silks was Aqraan in the Ulster Oaks on this programme, all of six years back. (MG & EM)