PADDY Twomey went close to landing the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown when Pearls Galore was narrowly beaten so was not out of turn in gaining some fortune when his star filly La Petite Coco (114) edged out Love on the line to win the Group 2 Blandford Stakes.

Woodland Garden set a strong a gallop for stablemate Love (114) to aim at on her drop in grade and, for all but the final stride, it was a tactic the Ballydoyle team executed to perfection. However, La Petite Coco was not to be denied in the hands of Billy Lee and overhauled Aidan O’Brien’s filly courtesy of a closing three-furlong sectional of 36.23 seconds, which was the fastest of the day on the round track.