Castletownshend and Nathan Crosse (nearest) cross the road inside the final furlong© Photo Healy Racing
Castletownshend got off the mark on his twenty-second start, as he claimed the opener at Bellewstown this afternoon, the Awards And Gifts Maiden.
Beaten by just a head on his debut back in October of 2017, the Ted Walsh trained chestnut went close on numerous occasions since and was indeed third at the Curragh on Saturday last.
Sent off a 4/1 joint-favourite today, the son of Equiano nodded on leaving the stalls, but quickly regained his composure under Nathan Crosse.
Soon settled in second, he was pushed along on the outer from the three furlong pole.
Ridden over a furlong out, he had a good battle with Aced It and Madaket Mystery in the closing stages, with just a neck and neck separating the three at the line.
Aced It (5/1) filled the runner-up spot under Mikey Sheehy for Joseph O'Brien, while Madaket Mystery, who was the other joint-favourite, finish third.
Walsh, who trains the winner for his wife Helen, said: "That was long overdue and he's only run a few times over seven furlongs.
"Nearly all his races have been local at Naas and the Curragh and he was going to get his turn somewhere. It's nice to win a maiden and he'll run away in handicaps now."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
