Knocknagree gets off the mark on third start

Knocknagree got off the mark on her third start as she justified even money favouritism in the Croom House Stud EBF Fillies Maiden.

The daughter of Galileo, who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Zoffany, ran well on her first two starts at Leopardstown and she was fitted with a hood for the first time today.

The Jim Bolger trained filly made virtually all and once ridden in the straight she kept on well to score by three and a quarter lengths under Kevin Manning. Takeachanceonme (8/1 to 6/1 on-course) finished second under Ross Coakley for Pat Martin while Love Letter (13/2 to 11/2 on-course) was a further three and three and parts back in third under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery.

Bolger's travelling head man Ger Flynn said afterwards: "The ground was gluey and horrible for her but it's nice to get a winning bracket. She reared up in the gates too but still won and was entitled to win on her previous form.

"We'll see where she fits in but she hopefully she will look for black-type at some stage."

The winner is owned by Joan and Denis Brosnan who sponsored the race.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes