Pandora Lovegood gets her ideal ground in Galway

With the ground deteriorating in Galway today, it was guaranteed to suit Pandora Lovegood so Gary Carroll kept it simple on the 15/8 favourite in the seven-furlong nursery. Ard Mhacha attempted to lie up with the leader, but it was Goa Gajah who began to wind up his challenge and looked threatening entering the straight.

Carroll kept Pandora Lovegood going in the final furlong which enabled the pair to see off a keeping-on Goa Gajah (7/2) by a length. Ard Mhacha was the same distance back in third.

Trainer Joseph Murphy said: “She's always shown that at home, she's a nice genuine filly and we love her. She's probably 7lb better on soft ground and I think she's improving all the time.

“I think she'll make a way better three-year-old. We have her entered in the Debutante and we'll see how she comes out of it.

“We were delighted to see the rain come and driving up I was more confident the more rain we got.

Pandora Lovegood won her maiden by five lengths on testing ground at Roscommon last month.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson