Battler does just that in first Nursery of season

Battleroftheboyne upset the odds by taking the Tom Gillson Lifetime Achievement in Racing Nursery Handicap, at 14/1 for his trainer Michael Mulvany with Ben Curtis aboard.

Having his fourth career start, the son of Majestic Missile, failed to build on his excellent debut run, when .19 of a length third to Snowflake Dancer at Dundalk, on his subsequent two starts.

However, he bounced back to that form here in the first Nursery of the season.

Racing prominently throughout, the winner was second three furlongs from home. He was ridden to challenge over two furlongs out and stayed on best to lead inside the final furlong, holding off the second and third, Kingdomforthebride and the 7/2 favourite Greek Canyon

This was the third time of the afternoon, rider of the second Chris Hayes, finished in the runner-up spot, having won the first aboard Sophies Echo

Winning trainer Michael Mulvany said afterwards: "I thought the handicapper had been hard on him as he was a little disappointing on his last two starts.

"He had been working well earlier in the year.

"He will go for a seven furlongs Nursery at Galway next."

Donal Murphy