Chroussa justifies favouritism in the opener The well-backed Chroussa ran out a comfortable winner of the opener at Listowel this afternoon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. Having opened at 9/4 with Paddy Powers this morning, the Jim Bolger trained daughter of Holy Roman Emperor went from 11/8 to a clear 6/5 favourite at the off. Drawn in stall two, the Charlotte Musgrave (celebrating her birthday today) owned filly broke smartly and made virtually all, stretching clear inside the final furlong to score in convincing fashion by four and a half lengths. Sophie’s World kept on to take second at 5/1 under Seamie Heffernan for Kevin O’Donnell, while Principessa Ava was further half a length back in third under Pat Smullen for Dot Love at 8/1. The Kevin Manning ridden victor was having her fourth run this afternoon, having finished second on her first two outings before disappointing at Royal Ascot on her last start, finishing tenth of ten in a Group 3 contest. Ger Flynn, travelling head lad for Jim Bolger, said afterwards: "Kevin said she handled the ground. It is virgin ground and not too bad. "We will probably step her up now and look for some blacktype. "You’d expect her to do that on her form." Additional reporting by Alan Magee
