Guessthebill another for Murtagh

Johnny Murtagh recorded his second juvenile winner in as many days, as Guessthebill took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2yo Maiden.

Murtagh was on the mark at Cork yesterday with Yolo Star, and another victory was expected this afternoon.

A good second on debut to T For Tango at Naas last month, the David Bobbett owned and bred colt was sent off the 2/5 favourite (from 8/15) today.

Settled in second by Pat Smullen (who was also aboard Yolo Star), he moved into a share of the lead from the three furlong pole.

He was pushed into a narrow lead a furlong and a half from home, keeping on well when ridden inside the final furlong, going on to score by a length and a quarter. Himmah who unshipped Chris Hayes on the way to the start, finished second at 3/1 (from 15/8) for Kevin Prendergast, while My Silver Nails was half a length back in third.

Murtagh said afterwards: "It was a good performance. I was a bit worried the ground might have gone a bit quick but the showers definitely helped.

"Pat said he's not a five furlong horse and probably just got away with it today. He's a horse we'll see getting six furlongs and he said he might even get seven furlongs in the end.

"He's surprised me how quick he's come to hand early in the year. He doesn't look like a two-year-old but he's got a little bit of ability and hopefully he'll go on and do something good for us in the middle and towards the end of the season.

"The owners aren't keen on Royal Ascot. I think he's done a lot quickly, a lot more than we thought he would at this stage of his career.

"He won't be an Ascot horse but will be one to look forward to towards the end of the year."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson