Hayes eyes step up in class for Ilex Excelsa

Favourite backers cheered home Ilex Excelsa who landed the nightcap in Dundalk under Chris Hayes.

The 9/10 favourite was winning a maiden for the second time as she was disqualified with a positive sample after winning at Cork in March.

She was in front for Chris Hayes in the final furlong but had to fend off Kendwar (5/1) by a neck and Dromana (9/2) by a further head in a driving finish.

Chris Hayes said: "She deserved that and it was nice to get it out of the way. The cheekpieces was a good idea by Fozzy (Stack) as we were worried when we looked at the entries that there wouldn’t be enough pace and she would be left there.

“She idles when she gets there and she’ll be better when she steps up in company.

“She acted on that surface and I wouldn’t be afraid to come back here but there are plenty of Listed races coming up with an ease in the ground.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee