Ebadan toughs it out in good style in Dundalk

Back from Dubai, Michael Halford doubled-up with Ebadan and Hat Alnasar in Dundalk last night, providing eight-time champion-jockey Pat Smullen with his first winner of 2016, when Ebadan justified 4/6 favouritism in the one-mile Big Bad Bob Maiden.

Beaten a short-head last time, Ebadan staying on stoutly under the champion’s determined driving to beat market rival A Shin Impala by a length and a half.

The Holy Roman Emperor colt toughed it out in good style, to the delight of his trainer: “He’s a lovely straight forward colt and his form was rock-solid. He’s an improver and every time you go the tank, there’s something there.”