O'Donoghue thinking big with highly regarded Beechwood

John O'Donoghue has big targets in mind for Beechwood after she made it third time lucky in the William Hill Pick Your Places Fillies Maiden.

A E140,000 yearling purchase, the Le Harve bay was a good third on her sole start as a juvenile at Naas in November.

Second to Ethical Diamond, who was since sold for 320,000 guineas, on her return to action at Limerick last month, she was well-fancied to make the breakthrough this evening, going off the 11/8 favourite from early shows of 10/3.

Soon in front under Ronan Whelan, the market leader made virtually all. Ridden over a furlong from home, she kept up the gallop all the way to the line, coming home a length-and-three-parts to the good.

The Jack Davison Yamalia Star (25/1) ran well to take second under Luke McAteer, while Hey Whatever (22/1) was half-a-length away in third.

Odds-on in early shows, before going off an easy-to-back 7/4 chance, Aghadowney faded tamely from the four furlong pole and was soon pulled up by Mikey Sheehy.

"I'm delighted, we've always held her in pretty high regard and had Limerick come off we might be looking at the weekend (Irish Oaks) with the rain that's due," said O'Donoghue.

"She's a filly that wants it easier than what she has run on there tonight. We'll obviously skip the weekend but we might look at some big targets later on, she's a nice filly.

"She's in the (Irish) Leger, I like putting them in and having something to work back from. In time she'll be a filly of that ilk hopefully."

When asked if he thought she would get the Leger trip he added:- "I do but I'm in no rush with her. She was a real frame as a two-year-old and we only got one run squeezed in.

"She had a big long break and she's improved since Limerick and I think she'll improve again, I'll give her plenty of time.

"We'll work back from the Leger, we'll give her a bit of time to get over it and see.

"Easy ground will be the big thing with her, I think we've just about gotten away with it there on yielding. I was hoping to see the rain and all the way down I was turning the wipers on when I didn't really need to!"

STEWARDS REPORTS

M.P. Sheehy, rider of Aghadowey (FR), trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was pulled up having gone lame behind.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Aghadowey (FR), trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be lame on her right hind post race.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson