Deauville takes the opener at Listowel

Deauville justified favouritism in the opener at Listowel, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, scoring on debut under Seamie Heffernan for Aidan O'Brien.

The son of Galileo is a full-brother to four time winner The Corsican and he holds entries in the Railway Stakes and the National Stakes along with the 2016 Epsom Derby.

Available at 2/1 last night he opened on-course at 11/8, touching 5/4, before going off the clear 6/4 favourite.

Drawn on the rail he broke well and soon disputed the lead before getting to the front over four furlongs out.

He was ridden a furlong and a half from home and kept on well inside the final furlong to score by two lengths. Hoppala (4/1) finished second under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld while Leath Na Hoibre (8/1) was a further length and a quarter back in third under Kevin Manning for Brendan Duke.

Seamie Heffernan said afterwards: "It was easy to like him and he was pretty professional although was a little green under pressure.

"I'd call the ground soft (as opposed to the official 'heavy') but the winning rider always thinks that and he handled it well."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes