Regally bred Laethanta Saoire gained an important first win at Dundalk today as the Jim Bolger trained filly landed the Coral Free Bets For Lengths Maiden under jockey Kevin Manning.

The second reserve was allowed her chance to run with the withdrawal of Rule The Sea and on-track, was well supported from 4/1 to 2/1 at the off.

Manning was prominent throughout on the daughter of New Approach and in the end the pair got up close home to edge past leader Avigale and score a neck win.

Laethanta Saoire, by Derby winner New Approach, is out of the Frances Crowley trained Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Saoire and following the race Manning reported “she's a very well-bred filly and had a very good run in Navan first time, in Listed company which was a big ask.

“She's going the right way and she's done that well tonight.

“She was working like a nice maiden last year at home and he let her take her chance in the Listed race. We never got another run into her after that but she has been working like a nice maiden all the time.

“She's a filly that will probably get a bit further. I always felt from the turn in that I had him covered but in all fairness to Gary's horse when I got upsides him he picked up and came with me.

“That's the first time she's been in front and I think there is a lot of improvement in her.”

Quotes from Gary Carson