Ballydoyle debutant dead heats with Lyons' favourite

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden resulted in a dead-heat as 1/1 favourite Nero Tulip and 4/1 newcomer Leinster House couldn’t be separated.

The former, who was the mount of Colin Keane, had been the horse for money all morning and raced close to the pace before gaining the lead two furlongs out.

The newcomer Leinster House was being pushed along by Seamie Heffernan in behind the leaders at this point and picked up well to challenge inside the final furlong. If anything, Aidan O’Brien’s charge looked he might have just shaded the verdict, but the twice-raced Ger Lyons-trained market leader showed good resolution to gain a share of the spoils.

Outsider Revkev was towards the rear when he clipped heels and slipped up a furlong out.

“Colin is a hard man to beat,” said Heffernan.

“I’d have preferred a win but I’ll take a dead-heat.

“It’s his first run and he showed plenty today. He has plenty of boot.”

Shane Lyons, assistant trainer to his brother Ger, said “He’s a grand genuine horse that will die for you. Colin said he’s after sharpening up big time so we could take him back to five.

“The aim will probably be the Birdcatcher (on October 31st, the final day of the Irish Flat season)”.

Quotes from Alan Magee