Step up in class next for Simla

While Sunset Beauty was the first choice with punters going off the 4/1 jolly, it was Simla Sunset who emerged victorious on the racecourse for her trainer Patrick Prendergast, in the Sonia Rogers Lifetime Achievement in Racing Handicap.

The 5yo daughter of One Cool Cat, had three wins to her name before today and went close to making that four on her last start over the course and distance, when just a head second to Future Generation

Prominent throughout today, under Ronan Whelan, she was fourth over three furlongs out. She then challenged to dispute the lead with eventual runner-up Joe Eile under two furlongs out, before taking up the running a furlong from home, keeping on well to score by half a length at 9/2.

Recent Naas scorer Colour Of Love ran a nice race to take third a further length and a quarter back for double chasing Willie McCreery with Wayne Lordan aboard.

Hat-trick seeking favourite Sunset Beauty could only manage fifth in the end having been backed from 6/1 this morning.

Winning trainer Patrick Prendergast said afterwards: "I was angry with the handicapper for giving her four pounds for finishing second the last day. Today's race didn't look as competitive and the rain helped take the jar out of the ground.

"She has won four times now and we will try and get some black type for her again now.

"There is the Listed Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary in a couple of weeks time over seven furlongs or we may travel (abroad) with her."

Donal Murphy