Teak eventually gets there under in-form Bates

Teak (11/2 this morning into 3/1) was the one for money in the opening Tayto Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick and he made all to score under 7Ib claimer Declan Bates (following up his success on Ardglen at Ballinrobe on Monday. He had a winner at the Listowel Festival too).

Adrian Maguire 's consistent but hitherto luckless Barathea gelding looked in command of this two and a quarter miler from well before two out but it got scary for his supporters in the latter stages as he had to contend with the late spurt of King Of Aran Half a length separated the pair at the line.

Bates said: "Adrian (Maguire) said if no one went on to let him bowl along and he wouldn't be keen.

"He was very tough when the other horse came to me.

"I'm having a good run, thanks mainly to my agent, Alan Donoghue."