Trainer Johnny Murtagh welcomed his first winner post-lockdown as improving filly Champers Elysees under Danny Sheehy, landed the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Handicap at the Curragh today.

Champers Elysees was a €28,000 yearling purchase for Fitzwilliam Racing in September 2018 and while connections failed to attain €100,000 at Goffs last October, they were rewarded with a second course win today and a cheque for €12,390.

Following the race Murtagh talked up lucrative black-type possibilities for the daughter of Elzaam and later commented “that’s a relief! The horses have been running great and we’ve had a couple of seconds recently.

“This filly has always been talented and has only been out of the first three once and that was in the big sales race.

“People were saying that she just wanted soft ground but she has a great turn of foot and I thought there would be more improvement with the better ground.

“She might make up into a Stakes filly if she keeps improving which I think she should.”

Quotes from Alan Magee