The James Barrett trained Always Annie landed the concluding Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden at Gowran today, under Rory Cleary.

The daughter of Mount Nelson battled her way to the front with a furlong and a half to race and eventually saw off the challenge of 7/4 favourite Magical Steps which stayed on late on but never looked to be travelling through the race.

Afterwards Barrett, registering his third winner of the season, stated “the plan was to ride her like that at Limerick but she sat back in the stalls. Everything worked out today and got a nice lead.

“She's tough and honest and I think when she steps back up in trip there is another day in her. She's won her race though, it's job done and we'll see what the handicapper does now. I think she'll be okay anywhere between 1m2f and 1m6f and she has plenty of options.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson.