McCourt's Ecclesiastical rewards those who kept the faith

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden went to 5/1 chance Ecclesiastical under Colin Keane.

On his first start since being gelded, the Pastoral Pursuits 3-year-old tracked the leaders before hitting the front over a furlong out.

Keane kept him going to beat Boundless Power (4/1) and Grey Streak (4/1) by half a length and three quarters of a length. 2/1 favourite Na Blianta Beo was fifth.

The Sarah Foran-owned winner was picked up for £14,000 at the back-end of last season having had a couple of unplaced runs for Martyn Meade.

He was runner-up in three maidens in mid-summer before finishing towards the rear in a Naas handicap on his previous start.

It was a seventh winner of the campaign for winning trainer Tom McCourt, who said: "I thought he would have won long before now, he always showed us plenty at home.

“Maybe castrating him has helped. Colin said he was probably in front soon enough and he'd rather have been there a bit later.

“It's great to get the win out of him. We'll tip away and see what is coming up.

“He ran a bit disappointing in the handicap at Naas last time but it was his first handicap and as I said he probably needed castrating.

“We'll look for a handicap or maybe see if there is a winners of one coming up.

“It's good to get that out of the way anyway and it's good for the owner who is a great supporter.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson