Whelan gets Hilltown Gal up close home

Hilltown Gal got up in the closing stages to win the Follow @TipperaryRaces Nursery Handicap under Ronan Whelan for Pat Martin.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor won her maiden over five furlongs on her second start at Down Royal in May, and back over the minimum trip for the first time since, she duly obliged.

Having touched 12/1 on-course she went off a 9/1 chance, and she came with her challenge on the outside over a furlong from home.

Given a strong ride by Whelan, she stayed on best in the closing stages, just getting up near the line to score by a head. Ever Yours ran a cracker to finish second at 25/1 under Danny Grant for John Murphy, while Aru Cha Cha was half a length back in third under Fergal Lynch for David Marnane.

Invincible Flash opened on-course at 10/3 but she was backed into favouritism, and went off the 2/1 market leader under Chris Hayes for Kevin Prendergast, eventually finishing a close up fourth.

Pat Martin said afterwards: "I have to say that was a bit of a surprise as her last few runs had been disappointing.

"She had a bit of an issue with her wind so we put the tongue tie on today.

"Ideally she would prefer a bit of an ease in the ground. She is a genuine five furlong filly and no more. Maybe the trip has been finding her out.

"The handicapper did us a bit of a favour and dropped her a few pounds."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee