Keeper just holds on under Ahern for Aherne

The Diary Keeper who is trained and owned by Sean Aherne, made all in the concluding Meet The Roses At The Races (Ladies Pro/Am) Flat Race.

A decent sixth to Nana Joan on debut at Tramore last month, the daughter of Mahler (second winner of the evening after Dawn Raider took the previous contest) was sent off at 12/1 this evening under Sheila Ahern.

Sent straight to front, she was pressed from over two furlongs out. She was ridden over a furlong from home, and kept on well to just hold off Marble Moon by a short head.

The runner-up was returned at 3/1 under Laura Hourigan for James Dullea, while Battle Hard was a further length and three parts back in third. Galaxy Burg was sent off the 4/5 favourite and he finished a disappointing fourth, with Katie Walsh in the saddle for Willie Mullins.

Sean Aherne said afterwards: "I was dodgy (regarding the result of the photo-finish) but she is a hardy bit of stuff and kept at it.

"It was a good run the first day and she didn't gallop down the hill either so we thought there would be a little bit of improvement in her.

"She is fairly one-paced but can go a gallop and stay going and hopefully she will progress away over hurdles. We may sell her if we could and she is by Mahler and her dam is by Presenting and that seems to be a good cross.

"She is well able to jump and was bought for just E300 at Goresbridge two years ago!"

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes