Abushamah takes opener in first time hood

Abushamah wearing a hood for the first time, got off the mark on his sixth attempt as he took the opener at Roscommon this evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Trained by Kevin Prendergast the son of Nayef wasn't beaten far on a few occasions as a juvenile, but he disappointed on his debut as a three-year-old at Gowran in April, finishing a well-beaten fifth behind Good Tradition.

Sent off a 10/3 chance this evening he raced in second for much of the contest as the Ger Lyons trained Angel Of Joy (5/2) attempted to make all under Colin Keane.

Both were under pressure inside the two furlong pole with the winner getting to the front 200 yards out before going on to score by a neck under Chris Hayes.

Angel Of Joy plugged on gamely when headed but she had to settle for second while Rousayan who was sent off the 6/4 favourite, was a further length and a quarter back in third under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld. Red All Star who opened at 9/2 on-course, was withdrawn before the start having gone a lap of the course with his rider Ronan Whelan unable to pull him up.

Kevin Prendergast said afterwards: "It was probably a furlong or two too short for him and we will look for a mile and two handicap for him now on Derby day."

The winner is a half-brother to Alshahbaa who finished second in the Group Three Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown in 2009, while the dam, Adaala, was a smart performer for Prendergast, winning a the Listed Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh in 2005.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham