Eddie Lynam belatedly opened his account for the season as Soffia justified favouritism in convincing fashion when taking the TRM Excellence In Equine Nutrition Maiden at the Curragh.

The 5/2 market leader led well over a furlong out under Robbie Downey, and stayed on really well inside the final furlong to score by two and a half lengths. Amthaal took the runner-up spot, with Astrospeed a further two and a half lengths adrift in third.

Lynam said, “It’s nice to get a winner for those colours. Lady O’Reilly has been with me for a long, long time. She goes well and she had a bit of form in the book.

“I don’t know how strong a race it was but she did it well and it’s a nice start to the year for her.

“I’ve had very few Kyllachy’s and I don’t know why because the best horse I ever had (Sole Power) was by him. They say they want cut but the ones I’ve had don’t seem to. She handled that fine.

“She’s from a good family, and was bought as a foal by my daughter. I think she was the first foal she ever bought, and I loved her so much I ended up buying her with Chryss. Chryss loved the family so we bought her as a yearling.”