Another triumph for Hughes in Ros' opener Indian Icon followed in the footsteps of his stable-mate Our Conor, as he took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden under Fran Berry for Dessie Hughes. Of course Our Conor went on to win the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in ultra-impressive fashion, and Hughes could have another potential Triumph candidate on his hands. The French bred son of Indian Rocket finished fourth on his debut over a mile and two at Naas last month behind Resolute Response. Dropped back in trip to seven furlongs here, he was sent off at 4/1 (was 11/2 this morning with Paddy Power) with Inkerman going off the 5/4 favourite for David Wachman and Wayne Lordan. However the 'jolly' had no luck in running while the winner had a clear passage through, hitting the front over a furlong out and staying on well from there to score by three parts of a length at the line. The Sean Byrne trained Lean And Keen ran a cracker on his debut to finish second at 33/1 under ten pound claimer Charlie Elliott, while the aforementioned Inkerman was a head back in third. Dessie Hughes said, of his Seamus Dunne owned winner; "He really wants a mile and probably a mile and a quarter by the end of the season. "We schooled him at home already and he jumps well. I’d say he probably goes on any ground." Additional reporting by Alan Magee
