Langtry promoted to Guineas favouritism
Sent off the 2-5 favourite, the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly settled the issue quite quickly having had work to do early in the straight and won by one and threequarter lengths under Johnny Murtagh.
Boylesports and William Hill make the daughter of Danehill Dancer favourite for the Newmarket fillies Classic at 6-1 and 7-1 respectively after cutting her from 8-1. Paddy Power, who left Lillie Langtry unchanged at 8-1 immediately after the race, later shortened her to 13-2.
O’Brien said of the winner: “She is a filly with a very good turn of foot and she changes gear very quickly. We gave her a break after she ran second at Royal Ascot and she was just ready to start back tonight.
“We think she should get a mile, but her next race may be the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh in a few weeks time.”
O’Brien was also delighted with the performance of runner-up, Devoted To You, who won her maiden by nine lengths at Galway last week.
He said: “Tonight’s race was possibly a bit soon for Devoted To You after her win at Galway, but she has run a very good race.”
Lillie Langtry, who was scoring for the second time at Pattern level, was completing a double for Murtagh and O’Brien after the pair combined to land the six furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF maiden with Beethoven who was getting off the mark at the sixth attempt.
Beethoven won by a head from Clashnacree, but had to survive a stewards inquiry after hanging badly right from one furlong out and carrying the runner-up with him.
While the pair never touched, the winner intimidated the second and in view of the narrow margin between them at the finish the decision to allow the result stand was a surprise to many observers.
The stewards took the view that the winner had not improved his position by drifting across the course.
“Beethovern is progressing and should have no problem going up in trip ” O’Brien said of the Oratorio colt who had been running in Group company.
Shane Foley rode a double, taking the seven furlong Dodder Handicap on Magic Mornings, trained by his boss Michael Halford, and the two mile Silverpark Handicap on Otterstown Lady, who came from behind in a strongly run race to score for trainer Cathie O’Leary.
After Magic Mornings had got up to beat Slieve Mish by a short head, Halford said: “That was a very good ride by Shane and a very good effort for a three year old filly in her first all age handicap. She might come back here for a six furlong fillies handicap in a week’s time.”
According to Mrs O’Leary, who is a sister of trainer Tony Martin, the Irish Cesarewitch is the target for Otterstown Lady who may run next over hurdles.
Gary Carroll, like fellow apprentice Foley, is having a season to remember and he was again seen to good effect when taking the one and a quarter mile Killiney Handicap on Andre Mon Ami, who was making it three wins from his last four starts.
Andrew Kinsella, trainer of the winner, said: “If the ground stays good or faster, this fellow will be out again soon.”
Cilium, trained by Andrew Oliver for former Dublin All Ireland football winning captain, Tony Hanahoe, came good at the fourth attempt when taking the one mile fillies maiden by one length under Chris Hayes.
Oliver said: “For the first time she had the right combination of track, trip and ground to suit. We thought about going for a handicap but I’ve always felt this filly was good enough to win a maiden.”
