Gary Carson
Star bursts on to scene late
Lily's Star gets up to deny Patrickswell
© Photo Healy Racing
Lily's Star lunged late to land the spoils in the five-furlong handicap at Naas.
Veteran Patrickswell looked set to score when claiming front-runner Ucanchoose inside the final furlong but was nabbed at the post.
Lily's Star, who had been held up out the back early on by Chris Hayes, came with a strong charge inside the final furlong to get up where it mattered for a nose victory.
Harry Rogers' mare was recording her third career victory but has also proved frustrating at times:-
“She's a hard mare to ride. Her owner (Angela Donaldson from Crossmaglen) has been very patient,” said the winning handler.
“Today we took a bit of a chance running her over five furlongs but she seems to have the pace for it.
“She was a bit unlucky at the weekend (fourth at Curragh). We may give Galway a miss and go to the Cork meeting just after that.” South Ring was sent off the 4/1 favourite but never figured in ninth.
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)