Inchturk stays on best for Whelan and Halford

Inchturk overcame his wide draw and stayed on best of all to land the Open Singles Thursdays Maiden at Gowran Park.

Ronan Whelan had his mount smartly away from stalls, before getting cover just off the early leaders in seventh.

Although the jockey appeared hard at work turning into the straight, his horse found plenty for pressure and just got the better of Moe Sedway in a driving finish.

The latter looked set to give Colin Keane an opening race double when taking up the running going easily but the Michael Halford trained winner just found that bit more.

Winning trainer Halford said; "“He's very genuine. I was delighted with him here the last day, he only tired late on, and he had come on well in his home work.

“I'm not saying we were expecting to beat Noel's horse but I thought we'd be a lot closer to him.

“He's a lovely straight forward horse with a great temperament. That trip suits him well and he might go further in time. He's a lovely horse to have, a good solid horse.

“We'll see what the handicapper does with him and go from there. It's nice to get a maiden win under his belt.

“I was sort of tempted, off his handicap mark, to go for a handicap but just with the way he had improved I thought we'd have one more go at a maiden.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson