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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Chroussa justifies favouritism in the opener

Mon 16th Sep 2013, 16:07

Chroussa is driven out by Kevin Manning to beat Principessa Ava (noseband) and Sophie's WorldChroussa is driven out by Kevin Manning to beat Principessa Ava (noseband) and Sophie's World
© Photo Healy Racing

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

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.