Mastery makes all for important brackets

The Ger Lyons-trained Crafted Mastery led her rivals a merry dance as she claimed the fillies maiden on the card at Gowran Park.

Colin Keane soon sent his mount to the front in the seven furlong contest and she opened up a healthy gap after a couple of furlongs.

Keane asked his mount for an effort two furlongs from home and the 8/1 shot galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a two-and-three-quarter length winning verdict.

The impeccably-bred Adeste Fideles (1/2 favourite) tried to give chase in the straight but never looked likely to peg back the front-runner.

The winner was stepping up on her two efforts this term which had seen her well-beaten at Wexford last time and here previously.

“That was very important for the owner and the horse's pedigree as Miceal (Sammon) has her sister going to the sales soon. So it was an important day,” revealed Lyons.

“She didn't enjoy the hustle and bustle at Wexford the last day. Today wasn't really the plan but there was only five declared yesterday morning. Colin said the blinkers made all the difference.”

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)