Sea The Lion and Ronan Whelan pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Sea The Lion returned to action with a win, as he took the Fitzpatrick Gallagher McEvoy Handicap under Ronan Whelan for Jarlath Fahey.
Twice successful in 2017, the son of Sea The Stars was last seen finishing down the field in the Irish Cesarewitch at Navan in October.
Available at 20/1 in a place this morning, the seven-year-old gelding opened on-course at just 7s before going off a 6/1 chance in the colours of Kathleen Whelan and Suzanne Fahey.
Settled behind the leaders on the inner, he was pushed along from three furlongs out, and was ridden to challenge on the outer from the two pole.
He gained a marginal lead inside the final furlong, and kept on well in the closing stages to prevail by half a length. Le Vagabond (16/1) kept on well to take second under Seamie Heffernan for Edward O'Grady, while the front-running Clongowes was a head back in third at 11/2, with Kevin Manning aboard this New Approach gelding for his boss Jim Bolger. Curley Bill was sent off the 9/4 favourite, and he finished a disappointing eighth.
Fahey said afterwards: "It's a great start to the year for him. I had a line through Nanabad to Curley Bill the other night (at Roscommon) and I had a fair idea that we weren't too far off. He's been working well this year and has been a bit sharper.
"Last year he was third on his first run back after a couple of years' absence but this year we knew he was a bit buzzier in himself. We probably didn't expect to win but we expected to run very well.
"He's very ground dependent and likes it on the safe side of quick so today it turned out to be ideal. I'm not sure what is coming up for him, and if there is nothing suitable in Ireland then we'll think about going pot-hunting in England with him."
STEWARDS REPORTS
C.D. Hayes, rider of Wooster trained by Noel C. Kelly, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got no run at any stage.
S. Foley, rider of Curley Bill trained by Noel Meade, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount felt the ground.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
