Debut win for Brendan Bracken

Trainer Ger Lyons won the concluding Barclay Web Design EBF Maiden at Down Royal today but not with his 8/11 favourite That Boy David the race instead being won by his stablemate and 20/1 newcomer Brendan Bracken.

That Boy David, which had three placed runs to his name, found little under pressure from two furlongs out whereas Brendan Bracken (which had been slightly slowly into stride), under Emmet McNamara, showed a willing attitude and stayed on strongly once 'in the clear' inside the final furlong.

Afterwards Lyons pointed out “we don't do second strings in our yard.”

“I thought my other horse (That Boy David) had a favourite's chance but this fellow has plenty done at home – in fact I was going to run him in a 1m2f race at The Curragh.

“Tonight was a learning curve for him – he wore ear-plugs but he behaved himself and I can only imagine he will come on buckets from that. Emmet is a good second jockey for me.”