Soul sends favourite backers home happy

All Body And Soul followed up on his maiden win over the course in January as he took the last, the www.valuecentre.ie Handicap, under Pat Smullen for Tracy Collins.

Making his debut in handicap company the four-year-old son of High Chaparral was sent off the 2/1 favourite (4/1 last night) in the colours of Herb Stanley.

Settled behind the leaders he was pushed along in fifth entering the straight, coming with his challenge on the outer with two furlongs to race.

He was ridden to the front inside the final furlong and kept on well in the closing stages to score by a length and a half.

Top-weight Abraham ran a fine race on his debut for Shay Barry, finishing second at 14/1 under Declan McDonagh. Temasek Star completed the placings a further neck back in third under Conor McGovern for Mick Halford at 4/1.

Tracy Collins said afterwards: "I'm delighted. He's still a big baby and hopefully there's a lot of improvement to come. He's raw.

"Pat gave him a lovely ride and I'm very happy. He probably will get further. He's only a shell of a horse.

"We'll see how he is but he might get a little break. Probably his future is over hurdles and that's probably where he is heading to."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson