Lyons gets Lily back to top-form

The Leopardstown September Handicap was off eight minutes late with Dougal Philps getting loose necessitating his withdrawal. The conclusion of the seven furlong event was a showcase for the talents of trainer Ger Lyons.

As highlighted in the formscan on this website for the race, Lily's Angel was knocked down to the vendor for 105,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale. In spite of that, she sported news silks today, those of Clodagh Mitchell, and she returned to her best on her initial try for Lyons.

She was a decent performer for Middleham Park Racing and Richard Fahey, finishing a close third in the Nell Gwyn in April and after that she came home in seventh behind Homecoming Queen in the Guineas. The Dark Angel filly then lost her form.

Here she put her head down and found plenty when required, seeing out the distance well to beat Seanie by a neck with the game performance of Duff falling away in the closing stages. He eventually crossed the line a length and three parts back in third.

Lyons said of the Gary Carroll-ridden victor: "It was good game performance. She was bought as a potential broodmare.

"She looked a bit over the top and like she had enough.

"We just kept her sweet and the plan was to come here and if she showed enough enthusiasm to keep going.

"She was 97 rated in England and if she ran to that she was going to be hard to beat.

"The Gods shone on us this week as she needs top of the ground." (GC & EM)