Shield stays on dourly to get off mark

Backed into 1/2 favourite, the J P McManus-owned Shield delivered for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien in the two-mile [e-mail] Maiden in Dundalk last night.

Runner-up to Sunday’s Grade 2 winner Sure Reef in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown last time and having his second run on the polytrack, the Dylan Thomas gelding travelled smoothly into the lead two furlongs from home and, driven out, stayed on dourly to beat Dalasiri and Martys Magic.

Champion-jockey Joseph O’Brien commented: “He relaxes and travels well in his races. We were in front a bit soon, but he kept going well. He should pay his way and win more races, on the flat and over hurdles.”