Fiach McHugh battled his way to win Dundalk's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden today, scoring for trainer Andy Slattery and completing a double for his son jockey Andrew Slattery.

Well backed 5/4 favourite Together Acclaim faded tamely in the final two furlongs and while Honey Girl looked likely to win a furlong out, Fiach McHugh finished strongly, edging ahead close home for a half length success.

Slattery junior had won the half hour earlier handicap on the Hilary McLoughlin trained Evening Verse and following Fiach McHugh's win, his father and namesake reported "he had good form, had a good run in Listowel and ran a bit free in Killarney the last day.

"We gelded him over the winter and I thought he would win if he handled the surface. He was never on it before but was working very well the last couple of weeks.

"We like him and he'll probably go to Naas for a premier handicap for three-year-olds only, and he'll stay a mile.”

Fiach McHugh O'Byrne was leader of the O'Byrne clan during the Elizabethan conquest of Ireland.

Quotes from Michael Graham