Girl Of The Hour gets off the mark

Girl Of The Hour justified odds-on favouritism in the Buy Tickets Online At TipperaryRaces.ie Fillies Maiden.

The Jim Bolger trained Makfi filly was fifth on her debut at Leopardstown last October, before filling the runner-up spot on her next start at Naas in July.

Stepped up in trip to a mile and one today, she was sent off the well-supported 4/5 favourite, having opened at 11/10 on-course.

Settled in fourth by Kevin Manning, she was pushed along to close on the leaders entering the straight. She was ridden with over a furlong to go, and soon got to the front, keeping on well inside the final furlong to score by three lengths. Balcony (4/1) finished second under Wayne Lordan for Tommy Stack, while the front-running Creme De La was another three and a half lengths back in third under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld at 11/4.

Kevin Manning said afterwards: "She had a good run at Naas and has improved from that. She'll get a bit further and was entitled to do that."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes