Spiorad takes the feature at Limerick

Spiorad Saoirse recorded his first win since the Galway Festival last year, as he took the feature at Limerick this evening, the Ballyduane Stud Race.

Successful on what was his second start at Ballybrit, the Andy Slattery trained bay failed to follow-up on his next six, but wasn't beaten far on his last two outings at Navan and Leopardstown respectively.

Sent off at 7/2 this evening he was settled in second, before improving to lead over three furlongs out.

He went a few lengths clear and was ridden from the two furlong pole, keeping on well under pressure from there to score by a length and three parts under seven pound claimer Ben Coen. True To Herself who was sent off the 11/8 favourite, tried to reel-in the winner from over a furlong out, but she ultimately had to settle for second under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery.

Slattery said afterwards: "He should have won in Leopardstown last Thursday week when things didn't go right and he would probably have won the Premier Handicap at Navan in March but got blocked in.

"He'll have a little break now and will go for the E30,000 0-100 3yo handicap at Galway on the Wednesday next and he likes it around there.

"He goes on any ground and is learning the whole time. He is a bit of a playboy and is starting to learn as he goes along. I think he'll also make a lovely hurdle horse as he is real brave."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes