Slattery's enthusiasm rewarded by Branch

Branch Line put in a smart performance on his debut to land the opener at Roscommon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden.

Given a glowing review by his trainer Andy Slattery in a recent Irish Field stable tour, the son of Rip Van Winkle was available at 6/1 last night.

That price was quickly taken, and he went as short as 5/2, before opening on track at 4's, eventually going off a 7/2 chance.

Settled in fourth by Billy Lee, he improved to challenge from the two furlong pole, and led a furlong out, keeping on well from there to score by a length and three parts.

The gambled-on Randall Stevens who was backed from 22/1 to 6's on-course, kept on to take second under Kieren Fallon for Michael O'Callaghan, while the 3/1 favourite Billy Big was a head back in third under Gary Carroll for Andy Oliver.

Slattery said afterwards: "He's as good as I've ever had and is the only two year old that could work with An Saighduir and go away from him.

"He was a bit coltish beforehand and a bit green and we were worried about his draw in 14 but he's in the National Stakes - that's how much I think of him.

"He's not short of pace and can drop down in trip. He's 16.2hh and is as big as a national hunt horse and I'll take my time with him for a while. I'm going to have a crack at the National Stakes as I think there's more to come. He's a proper horse.

"He's my wife Mary's horse and it's her first runner. We only got the colours last week and they are the colours of (Champion Hurdle winner) Winning Fair who my father won nine races on - we got the colours back again."

On his Royal Ascot runner Planchart, Slattery added: "She is in good nick and I'm expecting a big run out of her. I think she has a nice draw in the middle of them in 13. I'm hoping they call it soft, what we (in Ireland) call yielding and I'd be happy with that."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes