Verbal Fencing and Luke McAteer (left) beat Barretstown by a nose in the nursery© Photo Healy Racing
The Paddy Power Live Streaming Nursery produced a thrilling finish as the front-running Verbal Fencing (11/4) got the verdict by a nose in a head-bobber with Barretstown (28/1).
The homebred Vocalised filly, trained by Jim Bolger, made the running until tackled inside the final furlong by the eventual runner-up, who met a bit of interference just after the road crossing two furlongs from home.
The scopier colt looked like he might prevail, but the winning filly, in first-time headgear, battled well and her head was down at the right time.
Reserve White Pepper (25/1) came home well from off the pace to be a closing third, three quarters of a length further back.
The winner is a half-sister to two winners, and had previously been third in a nursery at the Curragh, a place behind Omakase who disappointed in 12th on this occasion having been sent off the 9/4 favourite.
It was an eighth winner in the last three weeks for the resurgent Bolger stable, and a third in three days for 7lbs claimer Luke McAteer who said: "She's tough and she stays well. She probably hasn't much speed, but stuck at it well to the line and going further she will be a better filly.
"She was very tough and when the boss has one like this you always have a bit of confidence that you can win.
"Big thanks to Kevin (Manning), he told me I would win if I made the running and got her up there early. She got to the line and that is what it is all about."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
