'He looks a Stakes horse in the making' - Federal leads home Joseph O'Brien 1-2

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Joseph O'Brien had a couple of disappointments earlier in the afternoon, but it is impossible to keep him down for too long as he showed by saddling the first two home in one of the most competitive handicaps of the season.

It probably should not be underestimated what a training performance it was to win this race with 28-1 shot Federal, an injury-plagued four-year-old having just his fourth start after periods on the sidelines of nine months and 14 months.

Mikey Sheehy got a lovely run through on the son of Zoffany as he prevailed by a neck from stable companion Good Heavens under Dylan Browne McMonagle.

O'Brien, whose second beat the winner in a Cork conditions race in July, said: "Federal had been off the track for a long time before running well last time. He was a talented two-year-old but he had a bit of trouble with his feet, which is why he was off for so long.

"He was due to go to Australia but he couldn't fly because of that. His owner Lloyd Williams' patience has been rewarded and a lot of people put in an awful lot of work. I ran him on testing ground here last year and I shouldn't have, and then he came back at Cork and ran a good race against Good Heavens, so we gave him a shot here. He looks a Stakes horse in the making."

Of the runner-up, O'Brien added: "Good Heavens got a few pounds for beating Federal last time. He was just beaten over a mile-three earlier in the season and he will probably come back here for the mile-two premier handicap in two weeks."

Ado McGuinness was again mob-handed and third and fourth home Star Harbour and Pierre Lapin did best of his six runners

The trainer's thoughts are already pointed two weeks in the future and he said: "Roll on Champions Weekend and hopefully we can get them all in again.

"Star Harbour ran well, while Pierre Lapin has one of those races in him but you scratch your head and wonder whether you step him up or drop him back in trip. We stepped him up at Dundalk and he didn't see it out so we might drop him back to seven furlongs."

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