Equipped with cheek-pieces and a nose-band, Russian Soul did the necessary to shed his maiden tag at the fourth time of asking under Conor Hoban in the Magners Specials Maiden at Down Royal.

The Invincible Spirit gelding travelled well to deliver his challenge but in the end he needed the line as he held off the staying on strongly newcomer Brassbound

Michael Halford trains Russian Soul for Alice Kavanagh, who owned and trained the winner of the prestigious four-year-old maiden at the Punchestown point-to-point this year, Caspartino.

Her son Roderic Kavanagh (rode Caspartino) said: "Good ground is the key and we learned that at Dundalk last time. He was bought for me to ride in bumpers but he just has too many gears for that and we just wanted to get a win with him."

Meanwhile Conor Hoban commented: "He did it well and he was entitled to do that on his run at Dundalk (2nd 11 days ago). Good ground is the key to him and he stuck at it well though he was a little idle."

The Stewards enquired into possible inteference in the closing stages of this race involving Russian Soul, ridden by C P Hoban, the winner and Dream Applause ridden by R Coakley, placed fifth, where it appeared that the latter ran short of room and had to check.

Evidence was heard from the riders concerned in the presence of Mr S. Lyons who represented Mr K J Condon, trainer and master of R Coakley.

Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judge’s placings. The Stewards did, however, find that the C.P. Hoban had ridden carelessly, (Rule 214) and having taken his previous good record in this regard into account, they severely cautioned him.

(MG & EM)