Lyons has Lily performing like an Angel

A decent performer for Middleham Park Racing and Richard Fahey, Lily's Angel finished a close third in the Nell Gwyn in April and after that she came home in seventh behind Homecoming Queen in the Guineas. Well Ger Lyons is getting some tune from the Dark Angel filly and she made it two from two for the Glenburnie Stables operator in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Race at Dundalk.

She lost her form after those highs cross-channel but the three-year-old is on really good terms with herself right now. Under Gary Carroll, Lily's Angel always looked like she'd justify favouritism, travelling like a dream and extending away inside the last to beat Devotion by three lengths.

That one missed the start under Joseph O'Brien and had to be bustled along. However once racing she travelled well to arrive with her challenge but Lily's Angel was simply performing to a different level than her opponents on this occasion.

Lyons said of the Leopardstown Champion Stakes Day victor: "She likes the Irish air. She won a nice handicap at Leopardstown and she was bought to breed (owned by Clodagh Mitchell and her husband Kevin).

"The plan is to go for a Listed race here over a mile (9th of November, the Cooley Stakes for fillies) and it could also be on the agenda to go to Dubai.

"As I said she was bought for the paddocks and we'll see how she gets on in that listed race but she could have a good year at four if she keeps going like this." (AM & EM)