Mark Nunan
Noirvento scores for Collins and Whelan
Noirvento and Ronan Whelan (red and yellow) beat Bay of Skaill (left)
© Photo Healy Racing
Noirvento (4/1 fav) was produced inside the final furlong by Ronan Whelan to take the Well Done To All Frontline Staff Handicap.
They were well strung out from an early stage in this extended six furlong contest, and Whelan bided his time towards mid-division on the inside.
He had a fairly smooth passage between horses in the straight and the 5-y-o mare by Le Cadre Noir (sire of Rockingham winner Strong Johnson) came home best to defeat the pace-setting Bay Of Skaill by half a length.
The winner has developed into a consistent handicapper since her first success at Sligo last summer, and this was her third win in all.
Winning trainer Tracey Collins said; "She has gotten stronger over the winter and Ronan gave her a really beautiful ride; they went very quick early on, she finds it hard to get into her stride but he left her get confidence and produced her very well.
"We took her out due to ground and being in season twice recently and the thing with this filly is she is so honest and so genuine on suitable ground.
"It is a loss to Limerick today that the syndicate are not here today!
"There are 18 in the syndicate and they are phenomenal people from my local pub, the Croft Inn (in Suncroft, Co.Kildare). It's an awful shame they're not here."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes