Bay an aptly named winner of Laytown opener

The well-supported Bay Of Skaill got off the mark on her thirteenth start, as she took the opener at Laytown, the Gilna's Cottage Inn Maiden.

Placed six times previously, the Joe Murphy trained four-year-old was available at 7/1 in early shows, opening on-course at 9/2 before going off a 4/1 chance in the colours of owner Patricia Mullane.

Settled in mid-division on the outer by Gary Carroll, the daughter of Bated Breath took closer order from halfway.

She was ridden to the front over a furlong out, and kept on well from there to score comfortably by two lengths. Lady Nathaniel (9/2 to 7/2), who raced prominently, finished second under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons, while 33/1 chance Approbare was another length back in third.

The 9/4 favourite Prosecution could only manage sixth, while the Jamie Osborne trained, Melbourne 10 owned Rippling Waters was fourth.

"It's a long time coming. She'll be back here next year, we'll find something for her and maybe the Melbourne 10 might want to buy her!" joked Joe Murphy junior.

"She's not winning out of turn. She had some very solid form as a three-year-old, our horses haven't been right all year and are only starting to come into form now. She loved the quick surface.

"She has looked a winner a few times in the past and didn't get luck in running one day in the Curragh.

"We've no plan for her. She'll probably go to Dundalk and if the ground stays good we'll keep her busy.

"I'm delighted for the owners. We've had two winners this season and both of them in the same colours. We've one set of happy owners anyway."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson