Lehbab keeps up the good work for Halford

Lehbab showed the benefit of his debut second at Ballinrobe last week when going one better in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Bellewstown.

The Fast Company gelding challenged between horses in the straight to lead a furlong out, and kept on really well in the closing stages under Shane Foley.

The 11/4 chance, a sixth winner in the space of eight days for trainer Michael Halford, had three and a quarter lengths to spare over Brilliant Toy at the line.

The 4/5 favourite Lord Carleton ran very freely in the early stages, and finished another length and a half back in third.

Halford said, "We've had to be patient with him, and he's come forward nicely from his run at Ballinrobe.

"He's got a decent pedigree and has a good attitude. He handles that ground well, and I have to give them congratulations here as they have produced really nice ground.

"I met the owner Nasser Mohamed Ahmad Alhabtoor in Dubai, and he's a businessman out there."