O'Donoghue's Majestic makes Waves under Whelan

The well supported Majestic Wave got off the mark at the fifth attempt when staying on strongly to win the opening Arkle Bar Median Auction Maiden at Navan.

Runner-up on his last two starts, the John O'Donoghue trained colt made his experience count as he got up late under jockey Ronan Whelan to justify 15/8f.

A close up second at Naas in July, the colt found the step up to an extended 7f at Roscommon a bridge too far last time.

Despite being drawn high this afternoon, Whelan elected to switch left to the far side over two furlongs out, going second in pursuit of race leader Chester Nimitz

Heading that rival deep inside the final furlong, Majestic Wave went on to win by half-a-length.

John O'Donoghue said: "He ran lovely at Naas and the way it has worked out with the first and the joint second was always in the back of our mind.

"I didn't know if he was a six or a seven-furlong horse, probably somewhere in the middle. I think the stiff just shy of six suited him today and a little bit of ease in the ground.

"He will (get further) and he might be one to geld, and go into next year as a six and seven-furlong horse, but I'm not sure - plans are very fluid at the minute.

"They are huge supporters of mine and every yearling they have sent us we have manged to win with, so long may that continue."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham.