Skilled Warrior in charge© Photo Healy Racing
Skilled Warrior rewarded plenty of support when making the breakthrough in the Athleague Maiden over an extended seven furlongs at Roscommon.
Johnny Murtagh 's charge had been placed in five of his eight outings before today.
Be Coen had him third behind Tellthemi'mhere and Premium Ticket and the pair closed in second a furlong and a half down.
A ridden Tellthemi'mhere was claimed racing to the final furlong and Skilled Warrior forged on in the final 100 yards to score by a length and a half.
The winner was returned at 5/2 having been 9/2 this morning. Runner-up Tellthemi'mhere was a 7/2 chance. She came home three lengths clear of Premium Ticket at 14/1.
Jockey Ben Coen said: “He deserved that as he's been consistent all year. The bit of ease in the ground helped him.
“We took a lead on him today, which worked, and he enjoyed it. He did it well.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
