Royal shows his tough side at Ballinrobe Cullentry Royal's win in the €540 Average Tote Placepot Dividend Maiden at Ballinrobe, was hard-earned, with Billy Lee's mount getting up close home to defeat the gallant favourite, Storm Away. Whilst Benash's pace-setting may not have been frenetic, it was tough work for the runners at the business end of this mile and three quarters event. Storm Away got to the front under Danny Grant down the back straight but try as she might she couldn't fend Cullentry Royal who eventually prevailed by half a length. This looked a tight enough contest beforehand and so it proved as just half a length and three lengths were the margins back to Prima Vista and Katie T in third and fourth. Winning trainer Gordon Elliott reflected: "It's grand for him to get that out of the way after what happened (runner-up to Writers Block in controversial circumstances at Leopardstown). "It was a messy enough race – a bit stop start. He'll go for a flat handicap at Galway next but I'll have to talk to Barry (Connell, owner) first." (DM & EM)
