Snellen fended off the late challenge of hot favourite Purview to win the Group 3 Boylesports Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.

All eyes were on the Dermot Weld-trained Purview, who was sent off the 4/6 market leader under Colin Keane after chasing home subsequent Eclipse winner Delacroix in a Derby Trial at this track back in May.

However, it was the 16/1 shot Snellen who came home a short-head winner for trainer Gavin Cromwell and jockey Shane Foley after a thrilling duel in the final furlong.

While Snellen came from last to lead at the business end, Keane momentarily struggled to find a run aboard the favourite and although Purview gave his all when clear, Snellen was just too game and held on at the line.

Foley said: “She ran well the last day in Royal Ascot and it worked out lovely for her today in a small field. She likes taking her time and coming at them.

“She picked up better than I expected at the bottom of the straight and I said I may keep the momentum going. Colin was coming back at me late on, but she toughed it out well.

“It was a nice spare to pick up, but I’d say Gary (Carroll) will be back on her the next day.”

Ascot form

Earlier in the evening Fairy Oak confirmed the promise of her fine effort at Royal Ascot with a narrow victory in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden.

Second on her Navan debut in early June, Michael O’Callaghan’s filly then finished fifth behind the exciting Venetian Sun in the Albany Stakes less than a fortnight ago later.

On the strength of that three-length defeat the daughter of A’Ali was a 10/11 favourite to make it third time lucky under Colin Keane and while odds-on backers were made to sweat by the strong-finishing Yellowstone Lake, Fairy Oak clung on by a neck.

“She was entitled to win her maiden and Colin said she sharpened up plenty from Ascot. He thought after Ascot she wanted seven furlongs, but said six was fine today,” said O’Callaghan.

“He thought the ground slowed her down a little bit and she’d be better on proper fast ground like it was in Ascot. She was probably in front long enough and she felt the last 100 yards.

“She’ll step back up into stakes company and showed at Ascot that she’s capable of operating at that level. She’s in the Lowther and the Moyglare and she’s a real two-year-old.”

Time Bender caused a 33/1 upset in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

A bargain basement yearling purchase at €2,500, the Gustav Klimt colt pulled a length and three-quarters clear of the chasing pack to make a winning debut for trainer Bill Durkan and jockey Chris Hayes.

Assistant trainer Gary Bannon said: “He always worked reasonably well and has got stronger since May. We were planning to run him in a barrier trial that got cancelled, so we’d no option but to come here. He’s for sale. We have the mare at home and it’s a nice family.”