Mallavelly continues on upward curve with third success The Ger Lyons trained Mallavelly won for the third time since joining present connections, when staying on late under James Ryan to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap at Tipperary. Successful on her stable debut at Dundalk in March, the four-year-old was subsequently beaten on two starts on turf, before registering a first win on that surface at Leopardstown last time. Despite the form of that race working out nicely, the David Spratt owned filly was sent off 5/1 to follow up in this race. Held up in mid division by James Ryan, Mallavelly came through to head stablemate Empress Artemis deep inside the final furlong, keeping on well for a cosy three-quarter-length win. Shane Lyons reported: "We're delighted with both fillies and James got a great feel from Mallavelly today. They went a good strong gallop, she loves that top of the ground and loves that distance. "She is progressing all the time and obviously with fillies, the objective is to get blacktype. She is a little off it yet but that would be the ultimate aim. "Unfortunately Empress Artemis keeps getting put up for finishing second so is detrimental to her own success. She is very genuine but we might now drop her back slightly in distance." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
