LORD Erskine is the ultimate example of Harry Rogers getting prolonged improvement out of his string, but Cleopatra’s Needle is certainly another getting better with age for the Co Louth-based trainer, and she saved a career-best for the €30,000 Tote Irish EBF Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.

Racing from 4lb out of the handicap wasn’t going to get in the way of the Nap Racing Syndicate’s seven-year-old, who took 18 attempts to open her account, but has now found the winning knack. She continued an excellent summer for 5lb-claimer Paddy O’Brien to cause a bit of an upset at 22/1.