By his high standards, Barry Hills has been having a quiet time of things this season but the battling success of Provence (9-2) in the Ashbrittle Stud Maiden Fillies' Stakes could be an omen of better to come.

Richard Quinn took up the running just over a furlong out and resisted stablemates Mille Feuille and Poyle Dee Dee by a neck and half a length.

John Burrows, one of Hills' travelling head grooms, said: "That was a nice welcome winner.

"It was a good job Richard went when he did, as the filly scored by a rapidly-diminishing margin.

"She's taken a long time to come to herself, like a lot of ours."

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