Angel gives McLoughlin and Coen quick double Danny McLoughlin and Ben Coen combined for a quick double at Navan this afternoon when Lilli’s Angel took the second sprint maiden on the card. The well-backed 15/8 favourite was produced on the stand’s side to lead over a furlong from home in the race, over just shy of six furlongs. She ran around a touch in front but was nicely on top late on to record a three-and-three-quarter length win over Dreaminthejungle. The winner, who was 9/2 this morning, was taking another step forward on her fourth outing having been fourth at Cork in late August. When asked if she relished the cut in the ground McLoughlin said: "Without a doubt. "She's a filly that last year was doing all her work with the good fillies. "My uncle Paddy bred her, and she came to me in December of her yearling year. I'd say she was about 14.3 - she was a handy filly, and I thought to myself that if she didn't get out for the first day of the season, it's all over. "In fairness to Paddy, he said to me to take my time with her. She looked fairly set, but she took off growing. Every time I thought I had her, she grew and grew and grew. "When I was putting the saddle on her there, she has gone into a very big filly. She's very strong and even Ben said it there that she is a different filly to sit on. "She is by a very good stallion in Sioux Nation who can't really do much wrong. My uncle Paddy had a mare (Flower Of May) and he brought her to Sioux Nation in his first year and in the cheaper side of things. It is good for the mare and everything. "She just took a little bit of time coming to hand, but patience is a virtue. "For a filly with three runs, a lot of our work would be done on the bridle, so they never get let down too often. They do enough on the bridle. Ben said she will improve plenty." McLoughlin and Coen had also landed the opener with Layla Belle. (Quotes by Michael Graham)
