18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Champers Elysees fizzes round Ballybrit

Tue 28th Jul 2020, 18:18

Ben Coen and Champers Elysees in full cryBen Coen and Champers Elysees in full cry
© Photo Healy Racing

Champers Elysees proved more than able for the step up in class to Listed company in Galway.

Punters factored in the red-hot form of her trainer, Johnny Murtagh, in sending her off 15/8 favourite for his seven-furlong test for fillies . Inhale set an honest pace as Ben Coen and Champers Elysees kept an eye on her in fourth.

When Coen asked his mount to go after the horses in front of her out of the dip, the response was immediate at the two pole where she improved to second.

Inhale was soon swallowed up approaching the home bend as Champers Elysees strode away.

She drew further and further clear in the final furlong to prevail by seven lengths. Auxilia came through for second at 14/1. She was half a length up on A New Dawn (6/1).

This was Coen's 15th winner of the season. Murtagh continued his blistering form with a 28th success for his stable this campaign.

Johnny Murtagh said: “But for a little bit of a technicality she’d be sold to the US and thankfully they (Fitzwilliam Racing) kept her.

“I thought the best was still to come from her and it’ll be the Fairy Bridge Stakes for her next.

“In fairness to Danny Sheehy he said she was flying, and he rides her in all of her work.

“I was very, very impressed and I have to say surprised. Hopefully she can step up but if she stays the same she’ll do me.

“It’s Fitzwilliam Racing’s track after the likes of Baba Boom winning for them here before.

“Ben (Coen) has the talent and I’ve a good team of jockeys all told. They just need to keep stepping forward now."

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy

1st
15/8Fav
Tote €2.20 €1.10
2nd
7L
14/1
€4.40
3rd
0.5L
6/1
€2.60
4th
1.75L
22/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.