Fascinating Rock (left) and Ebanoran pass the line together© Photo Healy Racing
Ebanoran got first run on his better fancied rivals in the Group Three Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes, and he just held on to land the spoils under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx, however he was later demoted to second, and Fascinating Rock promoted to first, after interference was adjudged to have occurred in the closing stages.
Held up in mid-division in the early stages, Ebanoran was sent to the front over a furlong and a half from home, and while Fascinating Rock attempted to run him down, he just failed by a head.
A Stewards Enquiry was called shortly after they crossed the line, and after a lengthy deliberation the Stewards changed the result.
Ebanoran drifted slightly right in the closing stages, into the path of Fascinating Rock, and the Stewards deemed this enough for the result to be changed.
The winner, completing a brilliant big race treble for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen, went off the well-backed even money favourite, having opened at 5/2 overnight, touching 11/10 on-course, while Ebanoran was returned a 9/1 chance. Geoffrey Chaucer (7/4), for Aidan and Joseph O'Brien, was who also slightly hampered by Ebanoran just over a furlong out, could only manage third, a further two and a half lengths back.
Dermot Weld said afterwards: "I don’t want to win any race that way but interference happened and I thought he was the best horse on the day. It was a very messy race and Pat was adamant that the interference cost him the race.
"He is a big, long-striding horse and after they quickened off the home bend he lost his hind end momentum. Pat did the right thing and gave him a few seconds to find his stride.
"I’ve been teaching him to settle and switch off. Today was the first time he was really asked to sprint, and it just took him a few strides to react.
"I’d say it’s pretty definite that he will go to Epsom, and he certainly learned a lot today.
"His half-brother (Quick Jack) was second in the Leopardstown November Handicap last year, so you would have to be hopefully that he will get a mile and a half."
John Oxx said of Ebanoran in the aftermath: "He’s got a good turn of foot and is going the right way.
"There is no end of stamina in his pedigree, and the dam is a half-sister to two Ascot Gold Cup winners. Mating her with a sprinter has helped to put some speed into the pedigree.
"We will have to discuss going for the Epsom Derby with him now."
As if losing the race wasn't bad enough, Declan McDonogh was also given a three day ban for careless riding.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
