It took a long time before either Karasi (9/2) or Tallien (16/1) would give an inch but the former eventually came out on top after an exciting conclusion to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Dundalk.

A head split them at the line with Michael Halford's charge edging it under Niall McCullagh.

Tallien ran very well for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane with two and three parts of a length then back to the favourite, Royal Court in third.

"He had good form and he was a bit weak in himself and he sort of grew a bit and that. We sort of gave him a chance after Killarney," said Halford.

"There tonight they jumped out to go hard and then they steadied up and he would have preferred even a stronger gallop.

"He's very genuine and a very straightforward horse. I'm very happy with him as he is a good, honest, tough horse.

"I do (think he will make a good three-year-old), he's so laidback and easy-going and very adaptable and he'll get further no bother. It's just nice to get a two-year-old race won with him with the promise he showed earlier.

"We'll probably put him away now for the winter and go from there with him. We'll go a mile maybe starting off with him (as a three-year-old) but I'd say he'd be at his best hitting a mile and a quarter.

"I wouldn't say the race was totally run to suit him so I'd say he did well to do it."

And on Defining Battle (5th home here) he said: "He's a lovely horse. He just raced on his nerves with horses around him and ran a bit with the choke out. He's smashing, a nice horse. I'd say he will be back here soon."

M.A. Gallagher, rider of Lord Wimborne trained by Edward P.Harty, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount raced very keen down the back.

(MG & EM)