Flower holds off all challengers

There was a thrilling finish to the Coulsty EBF Fillies Maiden, with Wayside Flower coming out on top under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons and Qatar Racing Ltd.

Just beaten on her debut over the course and distance in May, the daughter of Shamardal then finished a good fourth in a Listed contest.

She was third on her last two starts over a mile, and back down to six furlongs today she was went off the 3/1 favourite.

Sent straight to the front by Colin Keane she was pressed and ridden over a furlong from home. She proved a tough nut to crack inside the final furlong, and held off all challengers, going on to score by a head.

The well-backed Focus On Heaven (9's last night, and from 5's to 7/2 on-course) filled the runner-up spot under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger, while fellow newcomer Sorelle Delle Rose (10/1) was another head back in third, with Pat Smullen in the saddle for Dermot Weld. Puppetshow (8/1 to 11/2) was also right on the premises, finishing just a head back in fourth under Seamie Heffernan for Aidan O'Brien.

Ger Lyons said afterwards: "It would have been a disappointing year if I didn't win with her as we thought a fair bit of her early doors and her early form was good.

"I just took the view that we'd drop her back and let her do it the hard way. She didn't like passing horses the last couple of times.

"I don't know what kind of level that was but she's won her maiden and it's no more than she deserves.

"I think she goes to the sales now. I've done my job."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson