Direction provides Holden with first flat win

Ellmarie Holden recorded her first flat winner, as My Direction landed the valuable McEnery Cup Handicap in the colours of her father Paul.

Having registered her first success with Static Jack in June, Sir Jack Yeats made it two for the the Co Kilkenny woman at Bellewstown last month.

Previously trained by John 'Shark' Hanlon, the winner pulled up over hurdles at Wexford on his first start for Holden.

He then finished a good second to Queen Alphabet over the course and distance last month, with subsequent winner Elm Grove two lengths behind him in third.

Available at 12/1 this morning, the son of Singspiel came in for plenty of market-support, opening on-course at 7's before going off a 5/1 chance.

Towards rear in the early stages, he soon made progress on the outer and was settled in third by Leigh Roche.

He was pushed along with over two furlongs to race, and he was soon ridden to challenge, getting to the front a furlong pole, before going on to score by a length and a half.

The front-running Xebec had to settle for second under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx, while Ceol Na Og (5/2fav) was a further half a length back in third under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger.

The winning handler said afterwards: "He's entered at Tramore on Saturday but we'll probably leave him alone now and give him a few days before making a plan. We'll keep him on the flat for a while."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee