Dual Galway festival runner-up Quizical gained a deserved maiden win at Gowran today, landing the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at the Co Kilkenny venue, for trainer Sheila Lavery and jockey Ronan Whelan.

The son of Roderic O’Connor improved to lead a furlong out and in the end stayed on well to defeat Sirjack Thomas by three parts of a length.

Afterwards Lavery stated “he deserved that. Ronan feels that he’ll be an even better horse in better company, and said he was still a bit keen. Up to this with the draw he hasn’t really learned how to race as he’s been out wide on his own. He said he won with a bit in hand and his ears pricked.

“He’s a tough horse and that’s his third race in just a few weeks. Like a lot of the Roderic O’Connor’s he likes a bit of cut, and he’s improving.”

Quotes from Alan Magee