The Willie McCreery trained Childhood arrived late under jockey Bill Lee to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Down Royal today, for owner Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin.

The daughter of Lonhro was held up by Lee before arriving with a late challenge to edge past 4/5 favourite Hunaina close home, for a neck win.

McCreery later stated “I was a bit disappointed with her the second day at Naas and thought she ran a little bit with the choke out. That was the plan today, to arrive late. She looks after herself a bit but she's a tough little devil.

“She did that well, quickened up well and might go for something like the Birdcatcher or another premier six furlong handicap.

“She finished off today whereas the last day she did it all in the first furlong and didn't finish.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson