Impound shows great battling qualities

After narrowly failing to run down Sugar Boy at Galway last time out, Impound got it right today as he out battled Hall Of Mirrors to take the first at Killarney, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2yo Maiden.

Trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, the son of Oasis Dream opened at 15/8 on track and touched 2/1 before being returned the 15/8 second favourite.

Hall Of Mirrors (wearing cheekpieces for the first time) for Aidan & Joseph O’Brien was as big as evens this morning with Paddy Powers before he was backed into 4/6 favourite at the off.

Impound was always prominent and was third at the halfway stage. He moved into second and was ridden to challenge as they entered the straight.

He hit the front two furlongs out but was soon strongly pressed by the odds-on favourite, Hall Of Mirrors.

However he pulled out more when challenged and stayed on well inside the final furlong to assert with 100 yards to go and win by half a length at the line.

Hall Of Mirrors had to settle for second while the David Wachman trained newcomer Orator ran a fine race on his debut to finish a further two and a half lengths back in third at 8/1 under Wayne Lordan.

Kris Weld, son of winning trainer Dermot Weld, said afterwards: "That's as strong a drive as you will see.

"He had the form in the book and he might come back to the Kingdom later in the month for a Nursery at Listowel."

Kevin Manning reported that his saddle slipped after two furlongs aboard the Jim Bolger trained newcomer Mac Lir

The 16/1 shot was eventually pulled up in the early straight.

(On-course reporting by Alan Magee)