Double for Foley as Pappina denies O'Brien of four-timer

Pappina got up in the final strides to take the Sean Cleary Memorial Fillies Maiden, denying Joseph O'Brien of a four-timer.

Second and fourth on her first two starts, the Jessica Harrington trained bay was a disappointing seventh on her most recent outing at Cork.

Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time today, she was sent off an 11/1 chance under Shane Foley (completing a double on the card).

Settled in mid-division, the Sea The Stars chestnut took closer order on the inner from the four furlong pole and was pushed along on the approach to the straight.

She was switched to the outer and ridden over a furlong from home, keeping on strongly in the closing stages, getting up close in the last strides to prevail by a head. Truce was the one just denied, with this Joseph O'Brien trained bay well-supported near the off, going from 7s to 4s.

The front pair were four lengths clear of the Jack Davison trained Gonetomillgrove (66/1) in third. Happywifehappylife also trained by Joseph O'Brien, was sent off the 3/1 favourite (from 12s in early shows) and she finished a disappointing fifth.

Foley said in the aftermath: "I'd say the maiden in Cork wasn't too bad and the stiffer track suited her today. She had a lovely first run and even her second run was a good run in a slowly run race at Tipperary.

"I got a nice position today and would have been unlucky as I took my chance going in because there were a few bad ones outside me. I went in and had to wait but luckily the line came in time."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes