< Ladytown showed plenty of fighting spirit as she got the best of a blanket finish to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap at Ballinrobe.

Shane Foley made most of the running on the 12-1 shot but she looked like being run out of it as Little Bug Aseasyas and Blackwitch Woman all came with strong challenges in the straight.

However, the David Marnane-trained winner pulled out all the stops for Foley to cling on by a short head from Little Bug with the same distance back to Aseasyas in third.

Foley said: "She battled well and she tried her heart out. It was like she knew where the line was and stuck her neck out."

Pat Smullen had just two rides at the track but he made the trip pay as both were worthy winners.

The rider got off the mark aboard the Willie Mullins-trained De Senectute in the Coleman Quarries Handicap.

Sent off the 3-1 joint-favourite, De Senectute assumed control two furlongs from home before quickly pulling nine lengths clear.

"She travelled well throughout and she did it really well," said Smullen.

"It was probably a moderate enough race but in these lower grade handicaps I was always waiting for something to come from behind."

Smullen then followed up on Snap Alam (7-4) who clung on by a neck in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race.

Dessie Hughes' useful dual-purpose performer Grangeclare Gold (5-2) was on target under Padraig Roche in the opening John Madden & Sons (Q.R.) Maiden.

Roche said: "She is a nice filly, she loves that type of ground and she did it well."

Chris Hayes teamed up with trainer Jim Gorman to claim the Purcell Construction Handicap with 9-2 shot All About Timing

Hayes said: "Jim's horses had been sick but they seem to be back to form now.

"This horse always performs well around here, it's his third course win."