Five to one on favourite Marchese Marconi failed to live up to his billing in the Dundalk Stadium on Facebook Maiden as Fairview Star dispensed with his maiden tag at the age of seven on attempt number eleven.

Joseph O'Brien exhibited signs of discontent on Marchese Marconi from not far after halfway.

Declan McDonogh made the best of his way home on Fairview Star from the quarter mile pole as O'Brien's mount slowly reached full stride.

He ran on inside the last but he was never going to bridge the gap to Fairview Star and a length and a quarter separated them at the line.

Eoin Griffin trains the Talkin Man winner for Dervill Dolan and he revealed: "That was a bit unexpected. He was coming back from a break.

"He had a good run here before Christmas when he was a bit unlucky in running and beaten just over length.

"He's been a bit frustrating up to this.

"I'm delighted for the owner. He's been with me a while and that's our first winner.

"We'll probably mix it between the flat and hurdles and hopefully we'll get a summer." (AM & EM)