Drumconnor Lad gives Keatley some convincing recompense

There was disappointment for Curragh trainer Adrian Keatley as his French 2,000 Guineas hope London Icon failed to fire in the Tetrarch Stakes at Naas, but he managed to carve out a much better result in the feature handicap chase at Down Royal as Drumconnor Lad ran out a convincing winner.

Ridden by Roger Loughran, the son of Winged Love jumped well throughout and turned an open-looking contest into an easy win as he stayed on strongly from the last to beat game front-runner Draycott Place.

Loughran commented: "He's a proper horse in his own right. He jumped badly at Leopardstown last time. It was his first time on good ground and his first time in a handicap.