While Aidan O'Brien was busy preparing Rip Van Winkle for his tilt at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes at Ascot today, his Maurice Utrillo won the Gowran Racing Festival Next Weekend Handicap, under Seamie Heffernan, at Gowran.
Maurice Utrilo raced towards the rear and, despite being under pressure from halfway, responded to Heffernan's urgings to eventually lead inside the final furlong, to score by a length and a half.
The win was Heffernan's 17th win of the season.
