CLONGOWES shed his maiden tag to scoop the big pot on offer in the Magners Ulster Derby at Down Royal.

Placed in each of his previous seven starts, Jim Bolger's colt was having his first taste of handicap action and Ronan Whelan had him prominent from the early stages.

He took the lead off Finn McCool shortly before the two-furlong pole and saw out the extended mile and a half really well to see off the hat-trick seeking Wingingit by a length and three-quarters as the 3/1 favourite.

Whelan said: "I came here today hoping that he'd get the job done. I spoke to the boss and spoke to Kevin Manning last night and they were very sweet about him. He's been hitting the crossbar a lot so it's nice to get his head in front.

"He's just a big galloper and he'll never do anything flashy. That's why I was always close to the pace as I didn't want to give him too much to do.

"I didn't want him getting caught for a turn of foot because what he does do is gallop - he'll go even further than he did today.

"The boss always seems to line one up for here and he fitted his profile today. He had a couple of good runs and was nicely weighted.

"We had Stellar Mass here last year who went on to be third in the Irish Derby. I know it's only a handicap but it always takes a nice horse to win this. Who knows what he could make up in to as he's still on the up."

Whelan was also on the mark when Cappadocia, whose five previous career successes had come on the all-weather, broke his turf duck at the 26th attempt with a determined performance in the Value Cabs Handicap at odds of 16/1.

ULSTER OAKS

Fresh from a treble at Limerick on Friday night, Billy Lee was back in the winner's enclosure at Down Royal after steering Dragon Fei to glory in the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Ulster Oaks Fillies Handicap.

Dermot McLoughlin's seven-year-old had been bumped up 9lb for a comprehensive Curragh success but travelled really strongly. As the race became a bit rough in the straight, Lee kept the 4/1 chance out of trouble on the outside and Dragon Fei saw her race out well to beat Cirin Toinne by a length and a half.

Owner David Eiffe said: "We were going to take her out this morning (because of the ground) and then I saw Willie McCreery took his out, and I said we have only to beat one to get a few pound so I said we would take a chance.

"That's our third time trying to win this race, I think we were fifth in it last year and third in it three years ago.

"She is coming near the end of her racing days, I think we have about six weeks left as she is in-foal to Dandy Man. We'll try and get a little bit of blacktype. She'll probably be high enough rated to say that she should.

"We have her in tomorrow but I'd say we will take what we got today. It will probably be faster in Gowran tomorrow. We will wait and see in the morning but she probably did have a hard race there."

CONVINCING

Wolfofbaggotstreet kept on his upward curve with a convincing victory in the Rainbow Communications Maiden.

Fourth on his debut before chasing home Coventry Stakes third Murillo at Tipperary, the Johnny Murtagh-trained 8/11 favourite tracked a leading trio before quickening to the front just past the furlong marker, and he came home a length and a half to the good over My Silver Nails.

"He did what he had to do. I think he's an exciting horse," said Murtagh. "I said to Connor (King) to try and get a lead today because the last day he made the running and got passed by one.

"It was important that he got a lead today and teach him how to race. He said he quickened up well and wasn't doing much when he got there. He said he could have done with them going a little bit quicker. He's a maiden winner now and I'm absolutely delighted.

"He ran a good race in Tipperary and just ran into one. He has good form and I think he's a horse that could progress from now on until the end of the year. He's a strong, hardy type. I'll step him up in class now next time and see how he fits in and how far he can go. There is a listed race in Tipperary on July 6.

"I think he can step up to six but we'll keep him at five at the moment. He'll have no problem getting six later in the year."

Missguided (4/1) was disappointing at Naas earlier in the week but bounced back with victory in the Down Royal Handicap.

Miss Power doesn't have many miles on the clock for a four-year-old but is a sprinter with a future and landed the odds in the Louis Roederer Handicap. Eddie Lynam's 8/11 favourite was fourth entering the final furlong but clicked up a gear under Robbie Downey and stretched two lengths away from Calm Bay.

Gustavus Vassa (16/1) didn't have the previous experience of On The Go Again and Wooster, but that didn't matter as he pipped them to make a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

READ THE FULL DOWN ROYAL REPORT IN NEXT WEEK'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD