Guardian Of Realm makes all to shed the maiden tag Sent off an easy-to-back 8/1 chance, Guardian Of Realm made all to get off the mark at the fifth time of asking in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Fairyhouse. The Juddmonte-owned daughter of Kingman had made the running when twice beaten at odds-on at Dundalk during the winter. Here, stepping up to a mile and a-quarter for the first time, she kept up the gallop under Colin Keane to turn around last-time-out Naas form with 1/1 favourite Mai Dahlia, slamming that rival by six lengths. Winning trainer Ger Lyons said "We knew that was in her locker, just things had to go right. “She’s a little bit headstrong and I said to Colin going out ‘if I was riding her I’d settle her from the front, but I’m not saying she’ll let you’. “We knew she had that ability so that’s nice. That’s a box ticked, winning her maiden, and I’ll talk to Barry Mahon (Juddmonte racing manager) now and see where we go.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
