Angel Girl strikes for Murtagh & Coen

The 9/4 favourite Angel Girl got up on the line to foil a major off-course gamble on debutant Ma France in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Hypernova made the running but was headed well inside the final furlong by the slow-starting Ma France who was backed from 50/1 in places overnight into an SP of 7/2. Denis Hogan’s newcomer was nailed in the final stride by Angel Girl who finished strongly to score by a head, with another neck back to Hypernova in third.

The Johnny Murtagh-trained winner had finished fourth on last month’s course and distance debut.

Winning rider Ben Coen said: “She jumped smart and probably sharpened up a bit from the last day. When the race was cancelled (on Friday) we were drawn ten and we got put out another three (drawn 13) so she has actually done well.

“She’s a good hardy, honest filly and it’s nice to get a maiden win into her. I’d say she will stay seven and hopefully she keeps going in the right direction.”

AM & MN