Tom Hogan© Photo Healy Racing
< Gordon Lord Byron showed no lack of stamina for the mile trip of the Desmond Stakes at Leoaprdstown.
The race lost some of its lustre when Darwin was taken out of the race, but Gordon Lord Byron had to battle hard to get on terms with the pace-setting Ansgar
For a moment it looked a forlorn hope for the 4-9 favourite, but Johnny Murtagh drove him into the lead close home to score by a neck< Free Eagle looks a name to conjure with in the future after he bolted up in what looked a hot renewal of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
A half-brother to Champions Day winner Sapphire, the 11-4 favourite cruised into the lead under Pat Smullen and quickly put daylight between himself and the rest.
Aidan O'Brien's Orchestra won the battle for second ahead of Wexford Town a full-brother to Trading Leather, but they were five and a half lengths behind Dermot Weld's impressive winner.
Smullen had earlier struck on 3-1 favourite So Devoted in the Bulmers Original Music Night Handicap, bursting into the lead in the final furlong to beat Patrickswell by two lengths.< Tobann ran out an impressive winner of the valuable Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Sovereign Path' Handicap for Jim Bolger.
Driven hard to get in front by Rory Cleary, the 16-1 shot was a willing partner and flew home to beat Jamesie by a length and three-quarters.< Vallado made virtually all the running to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden in good style.
Shane Foley was content to sit in front on the 12-1 chance and though John Oxx's My Titania a daughter of the trainer's great Sea The Stars, quickened impressively into second, Vallado had flown and recorded a two and three-quarter length success.
Charlie Elliott's early bid for home on Polished Rock (9-2) was enough to land the 'Happy Mondays' Apprentice Handicap.
