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Donal Murphy
Imrana justifies favouritism under McDonogh
Imrana and Declan McDonogh pictured on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing
Imrana justified favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, scoring under Declan McDonogh for Dermot Weld.
Fifth on debut at Cork last month, the daughter of Azamour opened on-course at 5/2 this evening, before going off the clear favourite at 7/4.
Settled behind the leaders, the roan victor was pushed along to challenge on the outer from the two furlong pole.
She was ridden to the front just over a furlong out, and kept on well from there to score by two and a half lengths in the colours of the Aga Khan. Baby Pink (7/1) ran on well to take second under Michael Hussey for Aidan O'Brien, while Tooreen Katie (12/1) was half a length back in third.
The winning rider said afterwards: "She is progressive. She was raw the first day and missed the beat again today and when Billy (Lee, on Bongiorno came to me early in the straight it helped me as it was the only point of the race when she started to carry me.
"She is immature and raw and will get a little bit further. I like the way she put it to bed in the last 100 yards and she is adaptable ground-wise and would go on any."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes