Cartouche writes an emphatic winning chapter

Aidan O'Brien's Cartouche sluiced away to rout the opposition in the Ballyhane Stud Fillies' Maiden in Fairyhouse.

Conditions had deteriorated to heavy, soft to heavy in places before this opening contest, however Cartouche made light of it.

Colin Keane sent her into an early lead in this seven-furlong assignment and the pair raced second once passed by Voler Mon Coeur after a furlong and a half.

Keane drove his mount past the leader approaching the two pole and the race was soon over once she was ridden a furlong and a half down.

The Galileo colt moved clear by the final furlong and increased the advantage before winning eased down by 14 lengths at 4/1.

Zumorrada came in second at 11/2 from 40/1 chance New Hill

Keane said: “They said she had come forward a good bit from her last run and to keep it fairly simple. She jumped smart and Leigh (Roche, on Voler Mon Coeur) wanted to go along so we slotted in and took a lead.

“I got her going from the bottom of the straight and she really extended the whole way to the line. I’d imagine she will be a lovely filly going middle distances next year.

“She got through the ground very well.”

Cartouche had finished fourth at Dundalk on debut in a fillies' maiden and then eighth in another fillies' maiden at Gowran Park.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee