The Colin Bowe-trained Tupelo Mississippi finished a fine second on his debut in the four-year-old maiden at Courtown under Barry O'Neill. Beaten by just a head, this son of Yeats raced up with the pace throughout and stayed on well in second up to the penultimate obstacle. The bay battled gamely from the back of the last to gain the lead, before being caught in the dying strides of this contest. Out of a half-sister to nine-time winner Schuh Shine, this €35,000 store lost little in defeat here and looks as though he could become a very decent prospect under rules moving forward.