Mascherano (named after the Argentine footballer) fended off Starling Force and Golanbrook by a head and a head in the concluding Freshford Flat Race at Gowan.

Golanbrook, carrying the famous Danoli colours of Dan O’Neill, may have been a bit unlucky as he drifted to his left in the final furlong.

Mascherano meanwhile is trained by Charles O’Brien for his rider Paul McMahon who said: “I think that’s my ninth winner. I’m a medical doctor by profession but I’ve gone into drug research which gives me more time for this.”