Resolute Response gets off the mark

After some big priced winners this evening, Resolute Response gave favourite backers some reprieve as he took the Kill Maiden for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen.

The son of Dansili was 15/8 this morning but opened on track at just 6/5 before going off the 5/4 clear favourite.

The Moyglare Stud owned colt hit the front after three furlongs and despite wandering about from two furlongs out, he straightened up a furlong from home when joined by Lake Nova and he then went about his business, asserting inside the final furlong to score by a length and three parts.

Newcomer Lake Nova (3/1) had to settle for second under Joseph O’Brien for his father Aidan while Arch Pearl (8/1) was a further length and three parts back in third under Emmet McNamara for Ger Lyons.

The winner finished third on his debut at Tipperary earlier this month behind Freewheel and he was stepped up in trip by a furlong this evening to a mile and a quarter.

Dermot Weld said afterwards: "He is a fine big immature horse who is still a bit raw. We will take things slowly with him.

"That is only his second run. We took things slowly with him as a two-year-old. I thought he ran a grand race at Tipperary and he came on from that.

"He did what I thought he would do.”

Weld also commented on the disappointing run of Princess Highway saying; "She was a bit quiet in herself so we will get her checked out to see if she is in season and we will let everyone know tomorrow.

"She is basically a top of the ground filly but I’m not using that as an excuse as I was disappointed".

Additional reporting by Gary Carson