Lily gains a deserved success

Bookmakers reeling from two winning favourites from three races at Leopardstown were hit again in race four, an apparently open looking Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes, when the well-backed Fire Lily (4/1 this morning into 9/4) justified favouritism under Wayne Lordan for trainer David Wachman and owner Michael Tabor.

Many of the nine competitors had a chance here as they approached the business end but it was Fire Lily who pulled out most when required to beat After (coming home well) by three parts of a length.

Wachman credited Lordan by saying: "Wayne gave her a good ride on the rail. She got to the front a little soon but it was straight-forward enough.

"We'll keep her to six or seven furlongs. There's loads of those races for her."

Ger Lyons' Group 1 winning juvenile, Lightening Pearl could only manage sixth place. (GC & EM)