Falcon puts in a smart performance on debut Falcon Eight put in a smart performance on debut to take the last at the Curragh, the Hanlon Concrete Maiden. The regally-bred Dermot Weld trained colt is a half-brother to Group 1 victor Free Eagle, while he is also closely related to thirteen time winner Custom Cut, and the high-class Sapphire. Having opened at 9/2 on-course, the Moyglare Stud Farm owned bay eventually went off an easy to back 11/2 chance under Declan McDonogh. Settled behind the leaders early on, he dropped to mid-division approaching the straight. He was ridden from the two furlong pole, and was soon switched left for room, keeping on best inside the final furlong to score by two and a quarter lengths. Persian Lion (8/1) finished second under Colm O'Donoghue for Jessica Harrington, while newcomer She Got Fast (25/1) ran on well to take third, another two and three parts of a length back. Winner Takes Itall was sent off the even money favourite, and he faded inside the final furlong, finishing a disappointing fourth. "He's been a very late maturing horse and it's just taken him time to develop," said Weld. "I was pretty certain he'd run a very nice race today but whether he'd win or not I didn't know, I just thought he'd run in the first three. "He's a colt, I think, with a lot of long-term potential. He's a lovely horse in the making and today is only the start. "He'll have a few runs this year, he'll be a four-year-old. He's been desperately immature and has only really come in the last couple of weeks, but he has come well in the last couple of weeks and I just thought he'd run a very big race here today. "He's never been on a racetrack before and you could see the greenness in him, he was looking at everything. "He'll make into a lovely staying horse next year and whatever he does this year will be a bonus for next year." McDonogh added: "He is a raw, the penny dropped late with him. When I flicked him out from the two, he was always going to win really. He handled the fast ground well. "He was never really dipped coming here so we weren't sure. We weren't sure how he'd run. It's hard because we haven't been on grass with any horse. I suppose everyone is in the same boat. You just don't know if they are going to handle the ground or not. "He is nice and I like the way he hit the line. It was a stop start race and was messy. We started rolling from four out and that suited me. I just had to come back half a length to get away from the 100/1 shot." STEWARDS REPORT The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Frankincense, trained by A.P.O'Brien, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
