Hippodrome opens account at the third attempt

The Mongey Communications Irish EBF Maiden over nine furlongs on soft ground was a stern test for juveniles but Hippodrome proved well up to the task on his third outing.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained son of Galileo justified market confidence being supported from 5/1 in the morning into half those odds at the off and was sent to the front over two furlongs out.

Seamie Heffernan ’s mount kept on strongly inside the final furlong to hold off the challenge of Harsh by half a length with Eyeeye a further two and three-quarter lengths adrift in third.

The winner’s stablemate Milwaukee was driven along soon after halfway but kept on encouragingly on his debut run to take fourth.

Heffernan said of the 5/2 favourite: “He’s a massive, big colt. He was a bit clumsy on his first run here and again the last day.

“They went a good gallop and he hit the line good. He’s a staying type.

“On his third run you want to see what you think is there. When he steps up a bit in trip he will probably be classy. He could end up being a Derby type.

“Mentally he’s going to come on a good bit.”