Friendless Pilot gets off the mark

Bush Pilot got off the mark on the sixth time of asking as he took the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show At The RDS Maiden, scoring under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld.

The son of Bushranger showed plenty of promise last season finishing fourth on his three efforts as a juvenile.

He lost some fans on his debut as a three-year-old when appearing reluctant to go through with his challenge when finishing second at Limerick and he then ran below par on his next outing at Cork.

Having opened an 8/1 chance this morning the Dr Ronan Lambe owned gelding was friendless with punters as he drifted out to 12/1 at the off.

Prominent in the early stages he was settled behind the leaders. He still travelled well over a furlong out but he had to be angled out wide for room from there.

Once he got daylight he stayed on strongly and Pat Smullen never had to get serious as he went on to score comfortably by a length and three parts. Texas Rock ran a fine race to take second at 7/2 (was 5/1 this morning) under Niall McCullagh for Michael Grassick while Eriniya was a short head back in third under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx at 11/4 (backed from 9/2 on-course). Monsieur Power who went off the 13/8 favourite, finished a disappointing fifth under Fergal Lynch for Eddie Lynam.

Dermot Weld said afterwards: "He ran very well in Limerick but then was too free in Cork. Different tactics were adopted today and you saw the result. He will go for a handicap now."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee