Druk obliges for Browne and Heffernan

Druk stayed on best to get his first career success in the second split of the extended 10 furlong handicap in Sligo.

Seamie Heffernan 's mount was always close up in pursuit of War Thunder who took an early lead from a wide draw.

Druk raced past the leader coming to the final quarter of a mile but was soon strongly pressed and, indeed, headed by Giustino approaching the straight.

Druk kept to the inner while Giustino came down the centre of the track. The leader kept boxing on but Heffernan got a renewed challenge out of Druk who picked up the chase in the final 150 yards.

At the next marker (100 yards), Druk had inched ahead and he kept on gamely to win by half a length at 5/1, having been available at 14/1 this morning.

There was a bunch finish for the places with Baron Wild (9/1) flashing home for second by a nose from 5/2 favourite Giustino.

Trainer Willie Browne said: "He's a big baby and you could, kind of, discount his last couple of runs because he was at the back of the field in slow-run races and you can't do that.

"It's great to win for the Niarchos family. Why they give me a horse or two every year I don't know, because I'm a nobody, but they're decent people!

"He should stay a bit further and he'll make a nice jumper."

Heffernan added: "I messed up on him the last day (eighth at Leopardstown) when he was spot on.

"He battled hard today. He's a massive, big horse and there could be more to come from him."

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan