Red Letter justifies odds-on favouritism in Killarney feature Red Letter justified odds-on favouritism in the feature at Killarney this evening, the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes. Seventh in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, the Ger Lyons-trained grey was since beaten into second in the Kooyonga Stakes at Navan. Expected to register a second career win this evening, the Juddmonte-owned victor was sent off the clear favourite at 8/11 (from 5/4 in early shows). Drawn out wide in 13 and settled in mid-division by Colin Keane, she made good headway from early in the straight and edged to the front from the two-furlong pole. While soon tackled, she found plenty when ridden, seeing off the game effort of Fiery Lucy (7/1) by a half-a-length. After attempting to make all, Ecstatic (8/1) couldn't match the principals from the furlong pole and ultimately finished another two-and-three-quarters of a length back in third. "She has done it the hard way, she was drawn and caught wide and the first two pulled well clear of the third horse," Shane Lyons, assistant trainer, commented. "The runner-up is a hardened Listed horse and Colin was delighted with the way she handled the ground and said she will get further. "She has got the job done today but when she fills into her frame, she'll be some horse next year. It looked a hard slog but we're ultimately we are delighted. "She has a championship cruising speed which you need for future races and Colin said if he had been beaten, it was because they didn't go fast enough. "We'll get home, speak to Colin and the family and make a proper plan." STEWARDS REPORTS * The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident on the bend out of the back straight involving And So To Bed, ridden by D.P. McDonogh, Bella Isabella, ridden by L.F. Roche, and Sweet Chariot, ridden by R.P. Whelan where it appeared interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. D.P. McDonogh said his mount hung slightly off the bend bumping Bella Isabella as a result. L.F. Roche said he recieved a bump from his inside. R.P. Whelan said he received no interference. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards took no further action. However, they did not that accept R.P. Whelan didn't suffer interference and upon further questioning he accepted this. * D.P. McDonogh, rider of And So To Bed, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung right on the bend out of the back straight. * L.F. Roche, rider of Bella Isabella, trained by D. K. Weld, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got a bump turning in and hung right afterwards. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
