Karamoja a facile winner of Thurles opener Fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time, the Willie Mullins-trained Karamoja (5/4 favourite) coasted home in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase at Thurles. Having her third start over fences, the daughter of Masked Marvel made all in the two miles, two furlongs contest and jumped well in the main to beat Neon Diamond by 12 lengths. Second and third in the market, Fancy Girl and Stormalong departed on the final circuit when the former fell and brought down the latter. Winning rider Paul Townend, carrying the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, said "She had decent form last year and was placed in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse . "She had been keen on her first run over fences when she ran ok, but was obviously very flat the last day at Naas where she was never going. We took the hood off today, she jumped for fun and it was more like it". Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
