Having his seventh race for Ado McGuinness Aussie Valentine gained a fourth career win in the Fitzers Catering Rated Race at Leopardstown.

They could never get to Aussie Valentine under 10Ib claimer Thomas Sherry after the soon prominent racer took over from the three pole.

Yutaro Nonaka, having his first ride in Ireland, got closest on Near Kettering but a length and a quarter split them at the line.

"It's been a long-time coming. I've had a rough five or six weeks," said McGuinness.

"The horse deserved it. On ratings he looked to be the pick and he's been very consistent all year.

"We just decided to take the 10lb off him tonight to give him a chance. We had it drilled into Tom what to do and he rode a perfect race.

"I'm delighted for him and for Gary Devlin and Joe McCrory that own him. He was a cheap horse, we bought him at Newmarket in the horses in training.

"He'll probably venture over hurdles at some stage during the summer and we could also look for something similar again.

"We didn't think he'd go on the ground but nothing ventured nothing gained. He went well and stayed at it well. We said we didn't make enough use of him the last day in the Curragh."

(GC & EM)