Romance finds her stride in Down Royal Romance (7/1) surged home to take the honours in the Grant Thornton Nursery Handicap at Down Royal. The grey filly raced towards the rear and looked to have plenty on her plate approaching the final furlong, however, she engaged a different gear and rattled home to get up in the final 50 yards for trainer Josh Halley. She won by two and a quarter lengths over Elyatta (4/1) with Summer Sent You in third at 25/1. Andrew Slattery said: "First-time tongue-tie and she relaxed really well today. "To be honest, she was quite impressive in the end. I was surprised, but delighted, with how much she picked up and went through with it and hit the line strong. "I was nursing her down behind the back of the horse in front of me down the hill. I didn't think I was going to trouble the judge too much but, just when I got a little bit of daylight, she has found a gear and took off. "In Leopardstown the last day, she was drawn very wide and she got a nice position and probably burned a little too much (fuel) to get there. Ran off the bend just out of greenness. "Today was just the first day we have seen what she can do. I'd imagine so (another furlong would help her)."
