Alan Magee
Course specialist strikes again at Tipperary
Lady Tilbury (centre) and Luke McAteer
© Photo Healy Racing
Lady Tilbury retained her unbeaten record at Tipperary making it three wins from as many visits to the track when taking the five-furlong Tipperary Town Race.
Just four went to post in the absence of Maria Branwell (change in going) and Luke McAteer gave the 2/1 shot a patient ride before throwing down a challenge over a furlong out.
The daughter of Bated Breath got on top inside the final 100 yards to beat 7/4 favourite Harmony Rose by half-a-length, with Master Matt dropping away inside the final furlong a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
Winning trainer David Marnane said, “She likes it here and is very quick. The last day, ok she’s not a Group 2 filly, but the ground came up way too soft for her. She was also a bit quiet for a few days after it and maybe she was in season but she was a different ball game today and was like a colt in the yard.
“She’s thriving on racing and physically getting better. I think she’ll make a nice four-year-old but unfortunately we might be selling her at the end of the season as it’s part of the terms of the (MRC Internatiuonal) syndicate.
“She’s been Stakes placed twice and will go to Naas in 12 days for a six-furlong Group 3 and then back here for a Listed race over five. Hopefully we can get that win in a black type race.”