McAteer's positive ride pays off on Rock The McDonnell's Bar Handicap at the Curragh, over a mile and half, saw Rock Of Ireland (7/1, from 11s this morning) record a first success at the age of five. Luke McAteer sent the winner to the front three furlongs out and soon went clear as the front-runners backpedalled. The 10/3 favourite Factual Fact was the only danger as he stayed on from mid-division to give chase in the final quarter-mile, and it looked like the market leader might reel in Rock Of Ireland but the latter, owned and bred by P.J. Kavanagh, was idling in front and held on to post a length-and-a-quarter victory. Winning trainer Rory Devine said of his stable debutant "We actually thought he wanted a bit further, so we were going to be good and positive on him and kick for home early.   “His home work was very good. I only have him a few months, but I know the horse well as I used to pre-train him and I rode him out when I was with Barry Fitzgerald.  “He did it well and we’re delighted with him. He loves that ground.  “I was on to PJ about going over hurdles with him, but he said we’d try and get a win into him first. We can mix and match with him.”  Devine recorded his sole previous win with She’s A Nation here last June and he added “That’s his half-sister. She’s in here next Friday in a Group 3 (Park Express Stakes) and we’re looking forward to her.”   Additional reporting by Gary Carson
