The Michael Halford-trained Protocol battled back gamely to land the spoils close home in the GemElliott Construction Handicap at Bellewstown. Aldo Raine cut out the running in the seven-furlong contest but gave way under two furlongs from home as Smiling Emily and Protocol moved through to fight it out.

Smiling Emily looked to have gained the advantage inside the final furlong but Shane Foley got a good tune from Protocol close home as he stuck his head out on the rail to land the spoils by a head.

The well-backed 3/1 favourite (11/2 this morning) had been third on his previous two outings at Gowran and Killarney.

"He had to be brave with ten stone, and would probably not want the ground that bad. Shane said he was a willing partner,” said Halford.

"He should get better with racing, although the more rain that fell the more worried I was. He's in the July Sales next Friday."

(Quotes by Alan Magee)