Noble Dancer sprang a 50/1 upset on debut to win the opening Magners Irish Cider Race at Down Royal today, winning for trainer Keith Clarke and jockey Robbie Downey.

The daughter of Alfred Nobel missed the break and was still fifth with a furlong to race but finished with a flourish to go past even money favourite Giselle’s Charm close home, for a neck win.

Afterwards Clarke stated “she’s a smart filly. We bought her off Colin and Jessica Magnier in the Breeders Sales and we’ve always thought a bit of her. We had her entered up in a Listed race at Tipperary but decided to sit and come here and give her a good education.

“The job was done tonight so we'll take that and we are now open to offers and we'll see what happens - Robbie (Downey) reckons she is the real deal.

"The pressure is off - I thought we would just get placed and go for a maiden but she might be somebody else’s problem the next day she goes racing hopefully!"

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Michael Graham