Convergence makes experience count

Ger Lyons' Convergence again demonstrated what a bit of experience can do for a two-year-old when landing the opening Irish National Stud Famous Name EBF Maiden at Leopardstown.

In the familiar Vincent Gaul colours, Colin Keane (fresh from a double at Tipperary last night) made all on the Cape Cross colt and he kept on well inside the last to keep outsiders Vert De Grece and Quinta Verde at bay. Gleneagles and Parish Boy for Aidan O'Brien and Jim Bolger respectively, might have been expected looking at the betting to do better, on their first taste of racecourse action but they had to settle for fourth and fifth places.

Ger Lyons explained: "We said we'd use his experience and hope for the best. It was a good genuine performance and he had to do it the hard way.

"I think he's a stakes horse.

"He was very coltish and needed his first couple of runs and the race in Naas crowned him."

R.P. Whelan, rider of Verbal Stiletto trained by Brendan W.Duke, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran green in the straight. (AM & EM)