Nathan Crosse after his first success on Elm Grove© Photo Healy Racing
Elm Grove came from last to first in the apprentice handicap to get jockey Nathan Crosse off the mark.
This extended mile race on heavy ground was one for the closers as Elm Grove and Nanabad both improved into mid-division in the final three furlongs.
The pair made relentless headway to pick off the leaders at the furlong marker. They settled down to fight out the spoils and it was Elm Grove who just found that bit more in the final strides to prevail by half a length at 6/1.
Nanabad, in a first-time hood, lost little in defeat at 20/1. She was a length and three parts in front of third-placed Bainne (12/1). Bay Hill took fourth at 16/1.
Willie McCreery, who was saddling a double, said: "That's Nathan's first winner - he has ridden twice previously for me and is a good little rider.
"He's still in school, is 17 and from Cahir, Co Tipperary. He rides out at weekends and during the summer and is a mannerly young lad.
"She is a right filly and that's the second winner for (stallion) Arcano today and it's all about the ground for them. She stayed on well, loved the ground and is in at Leopardstown on Wednesday. She's a hardy mare and we have to make hay with her at this time of year."
McCreery also took the featured Cork Stakes with Downforce
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
