Gloucester came home strongest in deteriorating conditions in Cork to win the opening juvenile maiden at 16/1.

The field raced in three groups across the track in the early stages of this five-furlong dash and it looked like Aidan O'Brien's Blue Point filly Sweetest was going to make a winning debut when she swept through to lead over a furlong out.

She was followed through by Vanity Pays and Gloucester and it was the latter who really engaged her stride to lead inside the final 100 yards.

Vanity Pays tried to go with him as Sweetest gave best, but Gloucester had three-parts of a length in hand at the line. Runner-up Vanity Pays went off at 5/2 while Sweetest, a further length and a half back in third, was the 4/6 favourite.

Jockey Paddy Harnett said: “It definitely helped that he had two runs before today and I’m glad that the rain came as he ploughed through it.

“I half-speeded down to the furlong pole and he quickened away. He was green in front, but he stayed going forward. Hopefully he can progress into Stakes races.”

This was Gloucester's third run having finished 14th at the Curragh and sixth in Naas.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee