ROSE De Pierre looks set for a good season judging by her determined victory in the Listed Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown. Dermot Weld's filly was very progressive in 2016 and appears to have improved again.

She travelled well in the hands of Pat Smullen and although appearing likely to score more easily she did when hitting the front, she rallied impressively to keep the fast-finishing Marshall Jennings a head at bay.

Weld said of the 11/4 winner: "It was a good positive performance from a very consistent filly. She battled hard to win her stakes race in Cork and she did the same again there.

"She's a filly we hope to move on now. She's won twice at stakes level, and been multiple stakes-placed, so next time we'll look to win a group race with her. Please god we'll have her for the year and I'll keep an open mind for different group races during the year, but I just wanted to win another stakes with her today.

"I toyed with running in the group race at Naas last Sunday but the ground was just too heavy. She never wants it firm or never wants it heavy. It's lovely ground here today, much better ground than a lot of people expected coming. I'd say yielding is probably an accurate description of it and that's her ground.

"I had her in the Gladness on Sunday and the decision was whether to run in it or today, and we went for today. Probably at the seven she was going easier than at the line so I'd say a mile is as far as she wants to go. She'll come on.

"All of mine at the moment are probably just a few weeks off. It's a long year as it runs to November this year."

THREE-WAY PHOTO

Weld's Ace Of Diamonds (14/1) came out best in a three-way photo for the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap.

Light That led entering the final furlong, while Reinas Queen threw down a big challenge, but Smullen lunged late on Ace Of Diamonds, who prevailed by a head.

"It was very good ride by Pat - he just got there," said Weld. "We'll look for another similar race for him. I thought he'd run a good race and he ran accordingly."

Insayshable came out on top in a potentially informative Leopardstown 'Club 30' Membership (C & G) Maiden.

Well-related Ballydoyle colt Auckland made the running until his stablemate Venice Beach swept to the front on the turn for home. Colin Keane went in pursuit on the Ger Lyons-trained Insayshable (6/1) and he stayed on really well to cross the line with a length and a quarter in hand of the very promising newcomer Naturalist, with Venice Beach third.

"It was a grand performance and he has a great temperament for the job," said Lyons. "I would have liked to start him off over a mile but we were adamant that he wanted the mile and a quarter and he's after doing that well.

"If he didn't run accordingly today we would have been worried as he's up there with the nice ones in the yard. He's grown over the winter and I think he's still on the leg. We'd hope there is more improvement in him. He's just a nice horse. I thought he did it well and Colin gave him a lovely ride."

NEWCOMERS

Bound set a good standard in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, but it was fought out by the newcomers and went the way of Bengala.

A €350,000 purchase, the John Oxx-trained daughter of Pivotal sprouted wings late to collar Aurora Butterfly, getting the verdict on the nod.

Oxx said of the 14/1 winner: "She's a nice filly. She was working well and I'm not surprised she won.

"She was a bit raw and we knew she'd need an educational run. That was the number one thing, to get her in between horses and teach her a bit and then see with a flick of the whip what she could do. She finished well and I'm not surprised she showed some promise as she was indicating it at home.

"The ground is a bit sticky but it doesn't seem to bother her and she's probably impervious to the ground. I think she'll go on good ground. She could come down in trip, maybe.

"There is a listed race at Navan in 18 days' time, the Salsabil Stakes, so we'll see how she comes out of the race. It might be a possibility."

Torcedor made a sparkling start to life with Jessica Harrington as he sprung a surprise in the Spin 1038 Race.

The market was dominated by classy stayers Forgotten Rules and Twilight Payment, and it was the former who led in the early stages. Torcedor (8/1), having his first start since leaving the now-retired David Wachman, challenged him for that lead down the back and stretched further and further clear in the home straight.

He passed the post five and a half lengths in front of Twilight Payment, with Forgotten Rules fading on his return to action.

READ THE FULL LEOPARDSTOWN REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD