Royal Ascot-bound Powerful Nation improved on his short-head May 10th defeat at Cork to win at that venue today, landing the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden by a head for owner/breeder Kevin Walsh.

The Sioux Nation-sired juvenile was narrowly beaten to another Ascot-hopeful Rock N Roll Rocket in mid-May and today, under Andrew Stattery, was all-out - having idled, to score by a head from faster-finishing newcomer Fiery Lucy

Winning trainer Andy Slattery stated “I think he is a very good horse and he idled in front. I'll get him another run before going for the Windsor Castle (Royal Ascot), as he was doing nothing only looked around. I was hearing so many things coming down here, I thought I was actually running in the Windsor Castle!

“He had 9st6lb on his back and was giving a stone-and-a-half to some, so he is a fair horse. He was a bit green the last day, I think today's race was a proper one and I don't think ground is an issue for him.”

He added “Kevin Walsh bred him, owns him with his sons and is from over the road in Dualla.

“Kevin has had horses with me for 10 years and while this is his best horse, he is lucky. I was with him at Goresbridge (in 2017) where we bought this lame filly by Society Rock for just €3,000 but she was from a really good family and she bred Powerful Nation.”