The Ice Meister does what is expected

The defections of both Jack Naylor (coughing) and Pixie Belle (lame) meant just three went to post for the Rainbow Communications Auction Maiden, with the 1/5 favourite The Ice Meister running out an easy winner.

Ridden by Colin Keane and trained by Ger Lyons this grey son of Dark Angel ran well on his debut at Fairyhouse last month, finishing fourth behind Stella Street.

He didn’t have the clearest of passages that day and he was sent straight to the front this afternoon.

He was ridden along over a furlong out and he soon stretched clear, coming home seven lengths in front of the Pat Martin trained Easy Boy (9/1) with Three Cheers (11/2) a further twenty-eight lengths back in last.

Colin Keane said afterwards: "He's still a bit green. He'll come on for it. Ger said to keep it simple. Being Ger's stable jockey is a big job but a nice job."

Ger Lyons commented on the appointment of Colin Keane as stable jockey saying: "I appointed Colin because he's good. I think the world of Gary Carroll and Emmett McNamara and I'm a team player.

"Some trainers use the best available. I wanted to have a guy of his talent working for me.

"He has a bright future and is only starting out. Every now and again you come across someone who will work well with you and we have hit it off."

Winning owner Sean Jones also commented on the sale of Cappella Sansevero saying: "We'll reinvest the Cappella money on other horses.

"You have to reinvest as some years you have bad horses. It was unbelievable money.

"We ran it as a business from day one, but I said from day one if we break even we'll have had great fun."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham