Cest Notre Gris (nearest) keeps on best on the outside to catch Wholelotofrosie close home with Orgilgo Bay in 3rd© Photo Healy Racing
Cest Notre Gris (5/1) kept on best in the testing conditions to take the feature race at Listowel this afternoon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery, for his trainer Jim Gorman with Ronan Whelan in the saddle.
The Dick Donohue trained Wholelotofrosie led for much of the contest and attempted to assert a furlong from home under Ben Curtis.
It looked likely that she would hang on in front however Cest Notre Gris kept finding more and hit the front close home before going on to score by half a length.
Wholelotofrosie had to settle for second at 11/2 while Orgilgo Bay was a further length and a quarter back in third at 9/2 under Colin Keane for John McConnell.
The 7/2 joint favourite Impound seemed to be struggling in the conditions right from the start but he ran on to take fourth while the other 7/2 joint favourite was Count Of Limonade who finished a disappointing last of the seven runners.
The winner was recording his second Nursery win of the season having scooped a big pot on the Saturday of the Galway Festival.
Winning rider Ronan Whelan said afterwards: "Mr Gorman told me don't give up on him and to keep grinding it out.
"He hit a flat spot around two furlongs out but he kept finding for me. It is very testing out there and that is my twenty-third winner of the season."
Winning trainer Jim Gorman added: "Ronan gave him a great ride. I have to thank Kevin Manning as he told me to put Ronan on him and take the three pounds off at Down Royal on Friday.
"He is a very good rider, as good an apprentice to have come out of Ireland in years and he is well worth his claim.
"Penny & Bill Foley (the winning owners) are great patrons of the yard and they are a joy to be around.
"I’d say he would go on any ground and he is a tough horse and stays well."
(On-course reporting by Alan Magee)
