Angel shines so Bright

Dermot Weld won the opener at Listowel for the second day running when Angel Bright wore down long-time leader Lord Jim in the last 50 yards to win going away in the seven furlong maiden as the pair pulled clear.

The Dark Angel juvenile who was nibbled at from 8/1 to 7/1 had one previous run to her name when finishing 12th of 15 in a seven furlong Naas maiden.

However, she appeared to relish today’s soft ground as jockey Pat Smullen confirmed: “She ran very well first time but ran very green. She loves soft ground and picked up well.”

Indeed the filly stayed on stoutly in the final furlong to deprive the Kevin Prendergast-trained runner-up (12/1) who looked like he had outbatled the field.

The winning distance was half-a-length with three-and-a-half-lengths back to Eddie Lynam’s unraced Quote Of The Day at 20/1. Gambled on Aquilonius (16/1 into 7/1) from Jim Bolger’s yard with form figures of 908 stepped up on previous efforts to come home fourth which was a place too far for each-way punters.

Derby entrant Fort Sam Houston was hard at work some way out and came home eighth despite being sent off the 6/4 favourite for Aidan O’Brien. Captain Cullen was subject to morning support from 9/2 to 9/4 but Gerard Keane’s charge finished sixth at an SP of 5/2.

Michael Graham