Five Claw makes all to get off the mark

Five Claw made every yard of the running to foil uneasy odds-on favourite Song Of Love in the Elusive Pimpernel Maiden in Dundalk last night.

Well-supported all day and sent off 11/4, the Michael Halford-trained colt broke smartly, showed plenty of pace and, with the favourite struggling to cope with the drop back to six furlongs, was in command throughout the last two furlongs before holding Donnacha O’Brien’s mount by two lengths.

A son of Jeremy, Five Claw was Conor Hoban’s first winner since losing his claim. His boss Michael Halford stated: “He’s a lovely, big, imposing horse. He was a bit keen on his debut at the Curragh – he ran with the choke out. But we gave him plenty of time and he loved the surface tonight.