The judge couldn't split them in the Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden as Howling Ridge and Pythion shared the spoils.

2/1 favourite Howling Ridge, trained by Tony Mullins, was soon in front in the mile contest and was sent a couple of lengths clear, by Ronan Whelan, passing the two pole.

The Ger Lyons-trained newcomer Pythion, under Colin Keane, chased him down inside the final furlong and they were locked together in the last few strides.

A photo couldn't separate the pair and a rare dead-heat was called.

Howling Ridge had been third on his debut run at the Curragh at the start of the month.

“I can't ever remember having a dead-heat before, maybe as a jockey, but I can't remember one as a trainer,” said Mullins.

“He's a lovely horse that idled in front. I think he's going to go on to do better things, possibly a bit of company would have been a big help.

“We'll step up now to, definitely listed and maybe group company, and see if we are competitive there and I believe he will be.

“He's a very placid, beautiful, sound, correct horse in every way so I don't see any reason not to step up now.

“We nothing particularly planned. We looked at all the races but I didn't bother putting him in any of the Group 1s or anything yet.

“He might be sold as he's an owner/breeder but if I can get him excited enough we might get to keep him too.

“He's a good horse, it's not just lucky or anything, he's a good horse.”

Ger Lyons said:- “He acted very colty beforehand and is a fine big raw horse as you can see.

“Part of me wouldn't have minded being second so he would get another stab at a maiden before you have to step him up.

“He'll learn plenty from that, it was his first day on turf, he needed very yard of the trip and loved the ground.

“We're after getting the dead-heat and we'll see if there is a winners race now and we'll give him plenty of time between races.

“I had only intended to give him two, maximum three starts, this year. He's a trip horse for next year but a nice one.”