CASTLEWARD (93++) became the latest horse to pay a very handsome compliment to the Ballyvodock winner An Tobar, when he became the fourth subsequent maiden winner to emerge from that late January maiden by winning at Dromahane on Sunday.

His own eight-length victory, achieved in the quickest time on the card, saw him burst clear from the third last fence in particularly emphatic fashion to win as he pleased.

Outbattling

Earlier on that card Genietoile (93+) had put his previous experience to good use by outbattling the eye-catching newcomer El Saviour in a race that should likely throw up more than its share of future winners.

At Tattersalls, Sam Magee (90+) had to reel-in a runaway leader which he did on the run for the home straight before swiftly kicking nine lengths clear of the field in quite a short pace of time. Incidentally he clocked the joint-quickest time on the card, the same time as the older maiden winner Getaway Drumlee (90+). He defeated Bocelli’s Voice by two lengths with the pair pulling a distance clear of their rivals and they would look to have put up one of the more notable performances in the older maiden division this season.

El Muchacho (89+) thrived in the quicker underfoot conditions at Stradbally and looks a sharp sort that can make an immediate impact on the track over shorter distances into the summer.

Some Man (108++) bounced back to form once again in the Taylorstown open and remains a top performer when on song.