Express continues on an upward curve with win

Chestnut Express continued her progression to open her account in the six-furlong fillies maiden at Naas this afternoon.

The Darren Bunyan-trained filly had improved with each of her three previous starts and made the breakthrough in today's opener.

Chris Hayes had the Camancho filly prominent throughout and she took over passing the two pole.

The 8/1 shot kept on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-half winning margin over 25/1 outsider La Shirimp who was making her debut for Johnny Murtagh.

Chestnut Express had been beaten half a length when second on her last outing at Navan having been fourth and eighth previously.

Bunyan said:- “We have ended up trying to bring her forward on the track because of the way the ground has been all summer at home. She is building on every run.

“She is a filly that has always shown us plenty at home, and we are fairly sure that she is a filly that could run in Stakes company before the end of the year.

“The Birdcatcher back here is a possibility.”

The 13/8 favourite Afar found little when headed two furlongs from home and eventually finished tenth.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)