Clear Cut powered away in the closing stages to run out a convincing winner of the opening Mallow Maiden at Cork this afternoon. A Likely Story took them along in the seven-furlong contest and looked to be travelling best turning for home.

Kevin Manning was rowing along on 6/5 favourite Clear Cut but the son of Acclamation kept to his task well.

The Jim Bolger-trained gelding claimed the front-runner a furlong-and-a-half from home and went on to record a five-and-a-half length victory. Newcomer Warp Factor stayed on for second.

The winner had been narrowly denied twice as a juvenile and was second on his return to action at Dundalk earlier in the month.

"His form was there but I was worried about the ground. He did handle it though and will stay further,” said Bolger.

(Quotes by Thomas Weekes)