Off a mark of 48, Private Officer got up in the final strides to take the Bluegrass Horse Feeds 3yo Handicap.

Third at Limerick and Gowran in May, the Johnny Levins-trained bay was sixth and seventh on recent starts.

Sent off a 7/1 chance this afternoon, the US Navy Flag gelding was settled in mid-division by Joey Sheridan and was short of room from the two furlong pole.

Angled to the outer with over a furlong to go, he picked up well when ridden inside the final 200 yards, getting up close home to win by a neck in the colours of owner Damien Kelly.

Returned the 7/2 favourite, Finsceal Annie was the one just denied, while the Mark Fahey-trained Guest Star (10/1) was three quarters of a length away in third.

"He's a horse I've always liked, he was a very backward two-year-old," Levins reflected.

"Even in the first half of the season, I alluded to it that he is a horse that I would keep an eye on for the second half of the season when the penny does drop.

"What I liked today is that that is the first time that he has put his head down and run in a straight line.

"Even Killarney the last day, Andy Slattery rode him, he rolled around in behind and ran very, very green.

"Andy did say to me that he would win on his next run. I wasn't as confident just with the way mine were running, but Andy got it right. He gave him a lovely ride and looked after him and he taught him plenty which was the most important thing.

"Today I was taking a chance running him on this track because he is not a horse that is suited to this track.

"The ground is drying out, so I was a little bit worried, but I'm running out of time. He needs to grow up and learn, and he'll only learn with racing.

"I'm delighted for the owners and the horse and the jockey and myself.

"I was very afraid to geld him because he was so weak and backward. I didn't have enough time to geld him early doors and for him to fall away. I needed to keep the pedal on him and keep him interested and learning.

"I think he is just after growing up physically and mentally himself more than anything.

"I would go back to a big thank you to Andy, he gave him a lovely ride and educated him well and he was very complimentary of him after the race.

"I'd say he has just got away with it (ground), I'd say it was his ability that helped him get away with it. I'd say he would be better with a bit of cut in the ground.

"When they do improve, they become new horses, so you learn new things about them. We learned that he handles the ground."

STEWARDS REPORTS

J.A. Powell, rider of Finsceal Annie, trained by Ciaran Murphy, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung left in the straight.

A.J. Slattery, rider of Seven Eleven (GB), trained by J.F. Levins, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran off the first bend.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham