Mr Escobar justified strong 5/6 favouritism to win on his third attempt today, landing Dundalk's opening Irishinjuredjockeys.com Maiden for trainer Joe Murray, jockey Robbie Colgan and owner Aine Ryan.

The son of Epaulette moved to dispute the lead with Isotta with two furlongs to race, shaking off that challenge inside the final furlong, for a length and a quarter success.

Trainer Murray was on lead-up duty and jockey Colgan said "on every run he has improved and I think he will keep improving again from today as he was a lot straighter in the straight. He idled but got going again towards the line and afterwards I couldn't pull him up.

"He's a nice, big jumping type that will keep improving with racing. Hopefully he'll keep improving away.”

Quotes from Michael Graham