Garry Carroll rode his third winner of the afternoon when Grey Leader got the better of front running Roman Hands inside the final furlong of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race at Listowel.

Having made all the running on his earlier winners, Carroll was content to sit third on the Joseph Murphy trained gelding, tracking the leader, Roman Hands.

Moving closer over a furlong out, for a few strides it appeared as though the eventual winner may not get there but once his jockey asked for more the grey responded in determined fashion.

Trainer Joseph Murphy was completing a double on the card, having struck earlier in the day with Mary The Priest in the opening contest.

He reported post-race: "Grey Leader is getting better all the time and fast or soft ground makes no difference to him. He will have the Galway Mile in mind or a three-year-old-only handicap at the festival.

"He is an improving one, he came through the gap well today and will be a good horse.

"We just leave things to Gary (Carroll) as it is like playing '25' - you can win with a bad card if you play it well."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes