Little Queenie does it the hard way under Whearty

Little Queenie showed what a tough filly she is when keeping on strongly in determined fashion under Robert Whearty to see off all challengers in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies & Mares Handicap at Naas.

Despite three non runners reducing the field to just five, the race developed into a real thriller with any number of horses holding a chance of sorts at the furlong marker.

However, it was the Paul Flynn trained grey who showed the most willing of attitudes dipping into her reserves to see off her rivals one by one. Bells On Her Toes was the last to make her bid but the Andrew Slattery trained four-year-old couldn't get to the eventual winner, going down by a length-and-a-quarter at the line.

Paul Flynn, “I was worried about the ground because we blamed the ground at the Curragh but she just wasn’t herself. She was a different filly today.

“Seven furlongs the last two times was the wrong trip but we were just trying something different as we were scratching our head after the Curragh.

“He gave her a lovely ride and there was no one to take her on today. The handicapper has given her a chance as well.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee