Seolan sparks straight-away

Paul Deegan talked-up Seolan much earlier in the campaign as he assessed his prospects for the 2012 season and the daughter of Alhaarth didn't let him down on her belated debut in the opening Jet O'Carroll Memorial Median Auction Maiden at Listowel.

On the rag of the seven horse contest at 14/1 (from 16s) Chris Hayes, riding his second winner of the Harvest Festival, following on from Deegan's Talitha Kum yesterday, was keen to be on the pace on Seolan and she disputed with Truly Delightful from before halfway.

Favourite Johnny Lynch came there with his chance but Seolan left him and the rest for dead inside the last, going on to slam the second favourite Janna's Jingle by five and a half lengths.

By Alhaarth out of a Danehill Dancer mare, Seolan was never going to have much bother with the testing conditions here but Deegan was concerned on another front as he explained: "I thought she'd be a bit green on her first start but she was very professional and she was tough and genuine.

"Hopefully she can go on from here. She's out of a Danehill Dancer mare and she is fairly smart.

"Herself and Talitha Kum did a really good piece of work two weeks ago.

"They are two smart fillies and she will get further." (DM & EM)