Coen loses 3lb claim after winning on Mulvany's Comfort Line

His stable companion In From The Cold (5/2 fav, finished sixth) was more fancied but it was Comfort Line (9/1) who took the PWC Kilkenny Handicap in the hands of Ben Coen.

The young rider has been in good form since returning from injury a couple of weeks ago and gave the Alhebayeb gelding a well-judged ride from the front.

Coen (riding out his 3lb claim with this success) was able to dictate the pace he wanted and he kept enough in reserve to hold the challenges of the staying-on pair Miss Myers (14/1) and Spanish Tenor (9/1) by half a length and a head.

The winner had broken his maiden at Limerick in July and had been placed on his previous two starts.

Winning trainer Michael Mulvany (11th winner of the season) said: “He’s a nice horse and I think he’ll make into a far better four-year-old than he is at three.

"He’s big, nearly 16.3, and is only filling into his frame. The breed get better as they get older.

“The Lincoln is his plan for next year and also for In From The Cold.

“He’s won on good ground as well and for a big horse he seems to have a bit of toe. Ben said he was a little idle in front and he keeps a bit for himself.

“He’s not entered up so he’ll probably go on his holidays now. Most of mine have had a hard year and we’ll only be working on a skeleton team from now on.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee