Abbey wins battle of greys

Abbey swooped wide to land the first division of the bumper at Roscommon.

It proved a battle of the greys as La Femme Blanche took over two furlongs out and was soon tackled by Ardboe Abbey

Nina Carberry got her mount to the front with a furlong to run and Tom Hogan's charge kept on well in the closing stages to score by two lengths.

The 7/1 winner had been well beaten on his debut at Thurles back in January but had attracted support this morning (10/1 into 11/2).

"He was sick earlier in the year," revealed Hogan's son Andrew.

"He's still very green but is improving. He'll probably go for a winners' bumper next."

The gamble of the race Gate Please (10/1 into 10/3) could only finish fourth while 9/4 favourite Minella Reception was fifth.

Gary Carson & Thomas Weekes