Endorsement off the mark in Tipperary curtain raiser Having run a hugely promising race when runner-up on his introduction at Killarney in July, the Aidan O'Brien trained Endorsement went one better in the opening Camas Park Irish EBF Maiden at Tipperary. Sent off evens favourite, the son of Wootton Bassett tracked the early pace, as stablemate Christmas Day took them along. With the latter giving way early in the straight, Wayne Lordan came through on Endorsement to challenge leader Limestone at the furlong pole. However, the market leader had to work much harder than expected before eventually getting on top inside the final 100 yards to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths. Stable Representative Chris Armstrong said: "It looked to be a lovely maiden and some of them were coming in with good runs previously. Both our horses had good runs so it was a difficult decision for Wayne to make and he said he had a messy trip the whole way, as he was wide. In fairness once he got him straightened up and balanced, his last furlong was his best part and he really hit the line well. "He will now go into all those nice staying races towards the back-end, although the Beresford might come too soon. He is still babyish, so will come on mentally and physically and could run next in the Zetland Stakes in Newmarket, and maybe then on to the Group 1s in France. "He will be a lovely middle-distance horse for next year." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
