The market identified two to concentrate on in the Taylor Group Nursery Handicap at Down Royal and one of them, Simply True (7s into 9/2) took the honours for Andy Oliver and Ronan Whelan.

Favourite Eclector (7/2 into 9/4) came in for plenty of support too but he had to settle for third as Myrcella (9s into 8s) was the one that got closet to Simply True.

The runner-up didn’t get a clear run and she eventually went down by half a length with the same distance to Eclector in third.

Andy Oliver said: "We just spoke to Ronan (Whelan) beforehand and said to keep it simple. The rain getting into it meant that it is hard for a horse to come from behind.

"Ronan gave it a great ride - he hasn't ridden for me much before but he is a very, very good rider and it just worked out today he has a couple of rides for me. May this be the start of a good association!

"He didn't win his maiden and we were slightly disappointed because we always liked him - a nice, easy-moving horse. He could be one that has just taken time to string things together.

"Hopefully he will start to improve and we will take it day by day. He has done that and stuck to his task well.

"I'm delighted and the chap we train for, J P Ledwidge, is a good supporter of mine so it is nice to get things rolling for him.

"He handled soft ground but he is such a good mover that I wouldn't have been seeking it out. We declared on good to yielding ground. That (soft ground) came and it didn't inconvenience him.

"It could open up possibilities that I am not ground dependent."

D.P. McDonogh, rider of St George's Head trained by Kieran P. Cotter, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount jumped right from the stalls and hung left in the straight.

The Stewards interviewed W.M. Lordan, rider of Calidus Mirabilis (GB), concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards found the rider in breach of Reg.10.3.(g)(frequency) and having taken his record into account cautioned him.

(MG & EM)