A beaten favourite twice in his five race career previously, Alburj finally put it altogether with a hard fought success in the Listowel Printing Works Maiden to keep up Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen's excellent Listowel Festival (four winners from seven runners).

In a strongly run mile and a half affair where Battleoftrafalgar set the pace, Alburj came home better than Devils Bit to prevail by a neck with the aforementioned leader giving way inside the final furlong. He finished two lengths further back in third.

Smullen commented afterwards: "You'd need to get two riding fees for him. He makes it hard work and I'm glad that he has finally won his maiden."