Sunset too Hot for Nursery rivals

Despite proving easy-to-back, Hot Sunset made the breakthrough in the Knocknarea Nursery Handicap.

Third on her last two starts, the Joe Murray trained filly was as short as 10/3 in early shows, but drifted out to a starting price of 8/1.

Settled behind the leader in second, the Hot Streak bay was ridden over a furlong from home and soon challenged the front-running Our Louise

The pair had a good scrap inside the final furlong, with Hot Sunset getting on top in the closing stages, going on to prevail by half a length under Joe Doyle for owners Patrick O'Brien and Stephen Luddy.

Miss Louise (10/1) had to settle for second under Siobhan Rutledge for Liam McAteer, while Arch Enemy (4/1jfav from 11s this morning) finished fastest of all down the outer and was another half a length back in third. Shinkansen was the other joint-favourite and he finished a disappointing sixth.

Lisa Sheridan, wife of the winning trainer, said: "She's a lovely little filly who takes her racing really well. She'd a good run in Navan the last time when she battled well, and she saw it out well today.

"She'll go for something similar and should stay a bit further.

"I'm delighted for the owners, Patrick O’Brien and Stephen Luddy, who are here with their families and friends and they gave her a good cheer home."

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan