Molly Kaye ran away from her rivals for a clear-cut success in the first division of the mile and a half handicap in Galway.

She had a recent victory by a head on heavy ground at Navan in the book and she was mighty on the testing ground in Ballybrit today.

The nine-year-old mare raced in rear of mid-division before being asked to improve by Shane Foley racing to the final two furlongs.

She picked up and made relentless headway to third approaching the home bend and claimed Astrophysicist turning for home.

The leader really cranked the pressure up on the field as she increased the gap by the furlong marker.

There was only one winner from there as she sluiced home by five lengths at 8/1 from Stellify (8/1). Astrophysicist (12/1) dropped to third with Bolero fourth at 6/1.

"She is a tough little mare but had a lot of problems early in the year. We ran her over hurdles but each time she came back requiring stitches," trainer Shane Duffy said.

"She is a real mudlark and has a heart as big as a bucket - Dusty (Foley) said he's never ridden one as honest as her. She is really game and now she has her confidence back, will go back hurdling, where I think she is rated to win.

"It is great for the Flemings and that's their second winner in a couple of weeks."

The Stewards interviewed J.A. Heffernan, rider of fifth-placed No Hassle concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence, J.A. Heffernan admitted that he had breached the whip guidelines. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that J.A. Heffernan was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency and R10(3)(i) by failing to give his mount at least three strides to respond. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended J.A. Heffernan for four racedays.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes