Gutsy Champagne flows for McCreery and in-form Lee

Champagne Or Water, a filly who began winning in handicaps off a mark of 75 over two years ago, made the successful graduation to stakes company when running out a gutsy winner of the Listed Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes under in-form Billy Lee.

No factor was more in the favour of the daughter of Captain Rio than the very testing ground, and it proved crucial as she overhauled front-running In My Pocket close home for a half-length victory, with British raider Dream Walker a possibly unlucky third having received a hefty bump about a furlong out.

But of equal value was the patient ride given to the filly by Lee, who got there late having picked off his rivals one by one; indeed, trainer Willie McCreery was moved to describe Lee as "the best rider in Ireland at the moment".