Ice battles gamely to take Bellewstown opener

The Ger Lyons trained Ice Echo made virtually all as he took the opener at Bellewstown this evening the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

The son of Verglas finished second on his last start at Limerick behind the ill-fated Case Statement and he went off the 2/1 favourite today as a result.

Ridden by Colin Keane he came under pressure over two furlongs out and while he was strongly pressed and possibly headed by Bleu Ciel Et Rouge he battled gamely in the closing stages getting up to win by a nose at the line.

Newcomer Bleu Ciel Et Rouge had to settle for second under Leigh Roche for Dermot Weld at 11/2 (was 7/2 this morning), while King Christophe was six and a half lengths back in third under Declan McDonogh for Patrick Prendergast at 13/2 (was 14’s this morning).

Ger Lyons said afterwards: “Hands up how many of you thought he won it? I don’t think anyone can argue that he was the best horse on the day.

“He jumped the road and he was as green as grass. I personally thought he got beaten but he would have been an unlucky looser. I thought we were beat a head.

"The only negative is he didn’t get the 10k winners bonus. I said to his owner I would get his 10k winners bonus next time.

"His owner (Damian Nolan) is from Mullingar and he came over from Paris where he lives.

"I didn’t wanted to run him against Joseph Murphy’s horse (Vert De Grece) on Monday (at Roscommon). We’ll take that."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham