Angel Of Joy delights his backers

Well-backed Angel Of Joy made every yard and kept up the gallop to land the mile maiden in Gowran Park.

The Ger Lyons trained three-year-old gelding had two runner-up finishes in the form book and was punted from an opening show of 13/8 down to an SP of 11/10 favourite.

From the gate he was pursued by Muileata but approaching the straight Kevin Manning was seen pushing her along to stay in contention.

With two furlongs to travel, Colin Keane on board Angel Of Joy asked for more and he strode to the line two and three quarter lengths in front of Muileata (9/4).

Ger Lyons said: “That's grand and it was very straightforward. I trained his mother (Moy Joy) back in 2004. She nearly won the Ladies’ Derby. She was just beaten and got injured in that race.

“I ran his full-brother (Ardhoomey) in the maiden that the first winner (Highland Reel) ran in at Leopardstown and I think the world of him but he needs a wind op. The brother holds Group One entries all over the place but he just needs that job done and it is good family.

“This fellow (Angel Of Joy) is a nice horse and he is not ground dependant. We put the cheekpieces on him today as we thought he pulled up a little bit at Roscommon and we will go handicapping with him now.”

John Quinn from Kilcock heads up the winning Moyville Racing Syndicate and he also bred the winner. Le Prix Du Saint was running on debut for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen. She made good headway from rear to chase the front two home in third, but was never on terms in being beaten seven and three quarter lengths by the victor. She was easy to back from 7/2 to 5/1.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy