Rock Etoile makes all for Slatterys

Rock Etoile (11/2) wasn't for catching in the Paulstown Handicap over a mile in Gowran Park.

Andrew Slattery's mount broke swiftly from stall 16 to lead and came under the whip inside the final quarter of a mile.

He climbed the hill well and increased his advantage in the final 150 yards. London Palladium (18/1) stayed on well to reduce the margin to half a length at the line. Similarly, The Bog Bank (14/1) kept on for third, the same distance away. Narlita took fourth at 12/1, a further two lengths back.

Trainer Andy Slattery said: “He was second to Visualisation here as a three-year-old and it took us a long time to get him back right. We knew he would improve from Leopardstown.

“We could drop him back to seven or stay at a mile and he likes soft ground.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee