Third time lucky for Callender

Callender made it third time lucky in the Requinto EBF Maiden, scoring under Chris Hayes for Patrick Prendergast and owner Rick Barnes.

Third on his debut in the first race of the season at the Curragh, he was then caught close home by The Mcgregornator on his next start.

Available at 4/1 this morning, he opened on-course at 11/4, touching 3's, before going off the 5/2 joint-favourite.

Settled behind the leaders on the outer, he was pushed along to challenge under two furlongs out, hitting the front inside the furlong pole before keeping on well under pressure to score by half a length.

Newcomer Imagine If (5's this morning and from 7/2 to 5/2 joint-favourite on-course) kept on well to take second under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons, while Sebastian Bach was a length and a quarter back in third. Edgar Allan Poe was favourite in early betting shows, but he proved friendless on-course and finished a disappointing fourth under Seamie Heffernan for Aidan O'Brien.

Patrick Prendergast said afterwards: "The ground made a huge difference. In hindsight I shouldn't have run him the last day but he was going so well I thought we might get away with it.

"It was a better maiden today. Chris said his saddle slipped coming out of the stalls so it could have all went wrong. Considering that he could have won a bit handier and is a smart horse.

"The original plan was to go for the Marble Hill after winning his maiden the last day but I made a mess of it!

"We'll see how he comes out of this but the Marble Hill might come a bit quick now. I think a few weeks between his races does him no harm.

"Chris said he idled a little and I would have loved something to bring him a little closer to the line. He always seems to be doing the donkey work. At home he works very well to pounce."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson