Pre-race many thought the DKIT Students Union Race Night (C & G) Maiden (Plus 10 Race) might chiefly boil down to Rock In Peace (13/8) and Liberatio (6/4 favourite). However, it was Druids Cross (8/1) that stole the show in the second event at Dundalk.

Rock In Peace and Liberatio duelled it out up front but on his third start the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate-owned and Joseph O'Brien-trained Druids Cross came home best to gain the day by a length and a quarter.

Seamie Heffernan did the steering on the successful Cape Cross colt and he disclosed: "Joseph liked him and felt the two runs and sounder surface would stand to him."

He concluded: "He was green but finished out well."

Karen Reidy, rider of Algebra (GB), trained by John Joseph Murphy, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that she got unbalanced early in the straight when pushing her mount and sat into him to regain her balance but he ran on well in the closing stages.

(AM & EM)