Diva does the business at 50/1

Actin Like A Diva lunged late to spring a 50/1 shock in the opening Irish EBF Auction Series Fillies Maiden at Navan this afternoon.

The David Marnane-trained filly had shaped with promise on debut at Cork but had been well beaten on the all-weather at Dundalk last month.

5/2 favourite Agouti Bear hit the lead inside the final furlong but was run down late on in the extended five furlong contest by the daughter of Kuroshio, who picked up well for Nathan Crosse.

Crosse said: "The first day she was doing all her best work at the end (fifth in Cork). In Dundalk, it was quite a messy race and we were drawn wide and nothing really went to plan.

"Back on a nice little bit of give on the ground there today, pace was good and she stays going.

"I think it is beautiful, good ground, a little bit of juice in it but it is not good to firm - there is no firm in it. She enjoyed it and travelled away smoothly, lengthened nicely.

"If she didn't have her second run in Dundalk, and you pencilled that out, she wouldn't have been 50/1 there today. Thank God she put that first run back into form.

"I think she can (go forward), she tries hard and is a stocky, little filly. She would be nice in those premier nurseries if she can get into them."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)