Barnhill Rose defied top-weight of 10st to land the first split of the Guinness Apprentice Handicap at Roscommon.

The five-year-old mare was always in the front rank for Siobhan Rutledge over this extended seven-furlong trip and gamely went for home a furlong and a-half down.

The closers began to hit their stride deep in the final furlong, but Barnhill Rose held them off and won at 11/2. Emorcee finished well for second, pipped by a short head, at 11/1 and was a head in front of Pallasmore Lass (18/1).

“She was tough in fairness to her, very genuine. We went a strong gallop from the start, I think her optimum trip is probably a mile, and Denis (Hogan, trainer) said to be good and handy on her and make it a staying match. Thankfully she stayed,” said Rutledge.

“She got into a lovely rhythm and I was kind of happy with how fast we were going for the likes of her who stays seven really well.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson