Experienced Graceful keeps on best

The experienced Something Graceful finally lost her maiden tag as she took the "Ryan Sheridan" Maiden for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning.

The daughter of Galileo (second winner of the evening for that sire after Galileo's Choice was having her ninth career start this evening.

Always prominent, she disputed the lead five furlongs out before soon hitting the front.

She was ridden along four furlongs out and was a couple of lengths clear entering the straight. Lebron and Three Kingdoms tried to chase her down inside final furlong but she kept on well to score by half a length at the line.

The Aidan O’Brien trained, Seamie Heffernan ridden Lebron had to settle for second at 9/2 while Three Kingdoms, also 9/2, was a further half a length back in third for the treble seeking pair of Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen. Zalanga was sent off the 3/1 favourite for Mick Halford and Johnny Murtagh but she could only finish a disappointing eleventh.

The winner opened at 11/1 with Paddy Powers this morning but opened on track at just 8/1. She was then backed into 7/1 at the off.

Winning trainer Jim Bolger said afterwards: "The better ground helped her and hopefully there will be another day with her."

(On-course reporting by Michael Graham)