Though easy-to-back Natalisa looked attractively treated for the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Premier Nursery Handicap at Dundalk and so it proved but only just as the Down Royal winner held off Expire (supported into favouritism) and Knock Stars by a neck and a short head.

Lady Clague's successful daughter of Green Desert made all and kept going well enough to hold on in a good time of 57.56 seconds.

The win puts Ben Curtis level with Gary Carroll at the top of the apprentice championship. Curtis dismounted the 7/2 shot on the way back into the parade ring as his saddle broke. Exactly how that came to pass was a mystery to the John Oxx-based apprentice.

Lady Clague's granddaughter Scarlet Mullion was on hand to except the presentation for the Oxx-trained victor.