Accountant lunges late to strike for Coen and Murtagh

Mere Accountant kept on strongly to lead close home and take Division ll of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Dundalk.

Well away despite her wide draw, Ben Coen soon had the Johnny Murtagh trained filly up with the pace. Settled in second tracking early leader Bataan he faced a strong challenge from newcomer Sound Of The Night once the latter dropped away.

Coen had to be at his strongest to galvanise his mount and get her to pass the 100/1 outsider in the shadows of the post.

The winner was going one better here, having finished second on her racecourse debut at Naas last month. The daughter of Dark Angel appreciated the step up in trip, needing every yard of it to win.

“She won a barrier trial here and she had a good run in Naas over six which was probably a bit short for her,” said Coen.

A“She came out of that really well. She jumped today, and travelled, and to be fair to her when the second horse came to me she really put her head down and fought for me.

“She's genuine and she tries hard so hopefully she can keep going the right way.

“She's a good moving filly, she's not overly big, and she flicks across the top of that surface real well, it suits her.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson