Childhood flies home in the Birdcatcher

The Willie McCreery trained Childhood just got the better of Spy Ring in the At The Races EBF Birdcatcher Premier Nursery.

Sixth and tenth on her first two starts, the daughter of Lonhro got off the mark on her most recent outing at Down Royal, getting the better of Hunaina by a neck.

Making her debut in handicap company this afternoon, she was sent off at 10/1, and was settled towards rear by Wayne Lordan.

She was ridden and went third a furlong from home, staying on best inside the final furlong, getting up close home to prevail by a head.

Spy Ring (12/1), who was prominent throughout, was the one just denied, and she had to settle for second under Sean Davis for Michael O'Callaghan. Tinder (8/1) completed the placings a further length and a half back in third under Niall McCullagh for Jessica Harrington. Miss Qatar and Istan were sent off the 11/2 joint-favourite, and they finished fourth and seventh respectively.

McCreery said afterwards: "She ran here twice before and each time was doing too much in front.

"She settled lovely today. I told Wayne to give her a cheeky ride and do the same as in Down Royal and that I won't mind if he gets there too late.

"I thought she would handle the ground and everything suited. Wayne thought she had a bit in hand at the line.

"She's a great genuine little filly and had every option to cop out there today but stayed going to the line.

"It's great for the connections (winning owner Godolphin) and I'm delighted as I haven’t had a winner for them in a while.

"That'll be her for the year now. Now she's settling she should get further. We thought she was an out-and-out five furlong filly early on but we were doing the wrong thing with her."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson