Express sends favourite backers home happy

Following the heroics of her brother Ruby earlier with his ride on Old Castletown it was the time of Katie Walsh to deliver a result for the punters when favourite Franzel Express (7/2) landed the concluding Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Mares INH Flat Race at Tramore.

Peter Fahey's charge, a well-bred daughter of Yeats, stepped up on the consistent form she's shown to date, coming through from the back to lead under two furlongs out and beat the wide racing Where's Me by half a length.

"She deserved that, she had been running great races the whole time," said Fahey.

"I'm delighted for the Doyles (owners) who are from the Dunlavin area. They are after having a nice few horses with me but this is the first winner I've trained for them.

"She might get a run over hurdles now, we'll see how she is as she is after having five runs now in total. We had her entered to run in England last week but she wasn't qualified as you can't run in five bumpers.

"She has a brilliant pedigree, I think she is out of a half-sister to Queen Alphabet. Winning a bumper means a lot for her to go breeding."

(DM & EM)