Esquiline different class to her rivals

Ben Coen kept it simple on Esquiline who readily justified even-money favouritism in the fillies' maiden at Bellewstown.

The pair sat just behind front-running Angelic Appeal and swept by two and a-half furlongs from home.

From there it was 'catch me if you can' and nothing could go with her as she powered in by four and a-quarter lengths. As Fast As Wind took the runner-up berth at 25/1 and was three and a-quarter lengths in front of a fading Angelic Appeal (4/1).

Trainer Johnny Murtagh said: "Hard to find these fillies' only mile and a half (races). We decided to come here, a track that might not have played to her strengths. She's a big, galloping filly, she stays really well.

"Ben kept it straightforward.Once he got by the first bend and he was outside the leader, I knew she was going to stay well.

"A nice filly going forward, a bit of a work-in-progress. I think she will get better with racing and hopefully she could be one for next year as well. She's a big, raw filly and I gave her one run as a two-year-old - she was very backward but this year she is getting it together.

"We were kind of keen to run her against fillies this time. It is nice to get the job done, she was impressive.

"Charlie Noell and his daughter are over (Merriebelle Irish Farm Limited), they are spending a bit of time in Ireland at the moment.He's really enjoying it.

"It is something different for this man, he has owned big winners in America but this place is totally different."