Nancy Rose has her heart in the right place

Those that backed Nancy Rose from 4/1 this morning into 13/8 for the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Maiden were relieved punters in the aftermath as plenty went wrong but the Verglas filly still came out on top at Ballinrobe.

Gary Carroll did well to get the grey around in front with her chance still intact for the business end of the extended mile and one event.

In those same crucial closing stages Kevin Manning couldn't secure a trouble free passage on the 11/8 favourite Intense Debate (had to settle for fourth in the end) as the Joe Murphy owned and trained Nancy Rose fought off first time out 33/1 shot Giorgi by half a length.

Murphy explained: "She nearly got herself beat. She jumped the road and I thought turning in she was a bit green in front. She's a small filly and you'd have thought she'd handle this track but she probably wants more of a galloping track.

"I love the way she fought back and I thought she got a bit squeezed up turning in, and in the last furlong, but she fought herself out of it like a boxer and I just hope the handicapper isn't hard on her as she's small and weight kills these little horses.

"I like her – she's well bred – from a Moyglare family. She has a nice page for breeding." (DM & EM)