Herb Of Grace too spicy for her rivals

Joseph Murphy's Herb of Grace dominated from the front in the extended five furlong handicap for three-year-olds in Sligo.

Jockey Gary Carroll has a good recent record at this venue and pushed his mount into an early lead after breaking from stall two.

The Mehmas filly travelled well approaching the straight and increased her advantage turning for home. Recent Roscommon winner Lord Dudley the 9/4 favourite, attempted to chase her down but was ridden in second racing to the final furlong.

He could make no impression as the leader scooted home by a comfortable three and a half lengths at 16/1.

Runner-up Lord Dudley was four and a half lengths clear of third-placed Cnodian (8/1) in a race very few horses got into.

Joseph Murphy, Jr. said: “She’ll go for something similar, five (furlongs) again and keep her to 3-year-olds only if we can.

“She was drawn two and around here you have to make plenty of use of them. The ground suited her as well.

“She‘s a filly we liked last year but she disappointed us a few times, and it was debatable if we were even going to keep her as a three-year-old, to be honest, but we persevered because the half-sister (Group 3 winner Euphrasia) was very good to us.

“She won’t be as good as her but she’s got a bracket now and she’ll probably end up going to the December Sales." Herb Of Grace had been unplaced in her five previous outings.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan