Meade doubles up with Port Louis

Fifth and fourth in his first two outings, Port Louis was very professional when landing the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden under Colin Keane.

Easy to back at 7/1 (from 7/2 this morning), the son of James Garfield tracked the leaders and challenged travelling well two furlongs out. In front soon after, he was ridden clear a furlong out and kept on well to score by two and a half lengths from Courageous Strike

“I thought he'd win so that was great,” said winning trainer Noel Meade who was completing a quick double after Zero Fighter in the claimer.

“Colin likes him and said he'll go another furlong. He's always shown us plenty and he had a good run at the Curragh the last day over six, which was a bit too short for him. We thought seven would suit him.

“He only cost six grand so he was getting in here with a low weight.

“I suppose we'll have to think about the sales race, the seven-furlong race in Naas at the end of the season.

“I think there is a winner's race here and he might come back for that.

“Unfortunately, Jimmy Kernohan, who is from Randalstown, is not here as his wife wasn't that well. He's one of our long-time owners and has been with me an awful long time.

“I think that's his first Flat horse, we wheeled him out in the middle of a bunch and he said 'I want him!'”

Quotes from Gary Carson