There was some roar when Mayo For Sam hit the front inside the final quarter of a mile of the GAIN The Advantage Series Handicap in Ballinrobe, but she couldn't repel Desert Friend s strong finish.

Mayo For Sam came under the whip a furlong from home as Desert Friend was ridden to challenge her. The pair were locked together in the closing stages and it was Desert Friend who thrust best for the line to score by a head at 11/2 from the game runner-up who went off 9/2 joint favourite. Status Green (13/2) completed the placings in third, a further four-and-a-quarter-lengths back.

Ben Coen said: "Gary Carroll rode him the last day at Navan and told me he was a very straightforward ride. I knew it was getting a bit tight two and a-half (furlongs) down but, to be fair to the horse, he took me through the gaps well.

"I got to the leader's girth fairly comfortably, but that probably spurred that horse on and she kept finding a bit, but I'd say my lad was probably value for the winning margin because he didn't kill himself when he got there. Hopefully there's another day in him."

The winner prevailed for Denise Foster and the Magnificent Eight Syndicate.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan