Whelan gets Lord up to score

Ronan Whelan aboard Lordhighprotector got the better of Pat Smullen and Muntasaf in a driving finishing to the second race, the Tote Jackpot Guarantee Median Auction 3yo Maiden.

The Pat Shanahan trained daughter of Whipper was sent off at 10/1 after finishing a well beaten sixth of seven behind Purple at Killarney last month.

Given a confident front-running ride by Ronan Whelan, she kicked on as they entered the straight with Muntasaf closing her down with over a furlong to go.

He got upsides her a furlong out and looked as though he would go by but the winner battled gamely to land the spoils by a nose at the line.

The aforementioned Dermot Weld trained newcomer Muntasaf lost little in defeat in second at 9/4 while Pyrenean Music finished a further nine and a half lengths back in third for David Marnane with Fergal Lynch aboard at 11/2. Slipper Orchid was sent off the well backed 6/4 favourite after being supported from 11/4 with Paddy Powers this morning and 7/4 on-course.

However the Mick Halford trained filly never looked like winning and finished a disappointing fourth under Shane Foley.

Winning trainer Pat Shanahan said afterwards: "She is in the sales at Newmarket and Ronan gave her a peach of a ride.

"I was disappointed with her the last day at Killarney but it was probably just greeness on her first time out.

"She is by Whipper and she liked the ground."

"I have two more runners today and she was the one I fancied least!"

(On-course reporting by Alan Magee)