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Skydance grabs maiden success on return

Skydance and Billy Lee (nearest) beat Thundering On Skydance and Billy Lee (nearest) beat Thundering On
© Healy Racing Photos

Skydance just edged the verdict in a thrilling start to proceedings at Leopardstown this afternoon.

The Willie McCreery-trained filly had been runner-up in the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes at this venue last season and went to post a 7/2 shot on her return today, in the fillies maiden over a mile.

Billy Lee produced his mount with a strong surge down the centre of the track inside the final furlong to tackle Thundering On

The pair flashed past the post locked together with the Night Of Thunder filly getting up for a short-head success.

“She’s a highly rated filly so I’m delighted to get the win,” said McCreery.

“I was a little bit worried about the ground, whether it would be okay for her, because to me she needs good ground. She’s a very easy moving filly.

“They did a great job with the ground here and there was a nice bit of drying.

“She raced on her own there and I was very happy with her.

“She hit the line very well so you wouldn’t be worried about the mile now. I was a little bit worried about it but not after that.

“We’ll think high with her and then see where we aim then.”

1st
7/2
Tote €4.90 €2.00
2nd
shd
5/4Fav
€1.10
3rd
2.25L
33/1
€9.10
4th
1.25L
40/1
About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.