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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Murtagh's filly proves Best

Sun 12th Jul 2020, 15:55

Bestrella and Ben CoenBestrella and Ben Coen
© Photo Healy Racing

Bestrella proved too strong for hotpot Dark Pine when opening her account for in-form trainer Johnny Murtagh at Dundalk today.

The Es Que Love filly, owned by the trainer's wife Orla, slipped through on the inner to challenge two furlongs out and soon hit the front under Ben Coen in the seven furlong contest.

She kept on gamely inside the final furlong and held the late charge of 4/6 shot Dark Pine by a neck at the line.

The 2/1 winner had been placed twice on four previous attempts and was only denied by a neck at Gowran on her penultimate outing.

“She had a little break after Tipperary, Johnny freshened her up, and she came here bouncing today,” said Coen.

“She jumped, travelled sweetly and quickened up turning in. She got to the line well and she'll probably improve from it as well as she had a little blow.

“I'd be very happy with her. She keeps pulling out. She's simple as you can make the running or take it easy with her. She has a good attitude.”

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.