Donnacha O'Brien increased the lead in the jockeys' title race back to four with victory on 5/4 favourite Thames River in Dundalk's median auction maiden over a mile.

The Free Eagle colt tracked the leaders on the outer from his wide draw in 16. He was asked for more entering the straight and made headway to lead over a furlong out.

He kept on to close the race out by three parts of a length from Stinglikeabee (8/1). Classify was a further half a length back in third at 20/1.

Donnacha O'Brien said: "I liked him the first day, he was very raw.

“He's obviously stepped up a bit today but he's still quite raw. He's got a bit of an engine and that got him through.

“He's pricking his ears and he's all over the shop. I think he'll be better next year.”

Joseph O'Brien 's Thames River made good on a runner-up finish here a fortnight ago, on debut, over seven furlongs.

O'Brien now leads Colin Keane (who won the opener on the card) 106 - 102.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson