Lady Maura lords it in Royal County

Lady Maura and Gary Halpin absolutely blitzed their rivals in the Kilberry Handicap at Navan.

The 100/30 favourite travelled strongly in tracking the leader Blue Umbrella in this five-furlong sprint.

She readily swept by the pushed-along leader in the final quarter of a mile and asserted to have the field in trouble.

She was clear with a furlong to travel and breezed home by four and three quarter lengths. Fool Proof attracted support at big prices in the morning and kept on for second at 7/1. Lady Alcazar was a head behind the runner-up at 9/1.

“We've probably found her trip after a few goes at it,” said in-form trainer Johnny Murtagh.

“Gary thought when he rode her in Dundalk that she got tapped for a bit of toe and got outpaced so we tried her at seven.

“She's a strong traveller and I think she's learning how to sprint now so we'll probably keep her at that distance for a while.

“Five furlongs seems to be ideal. She came from the breeze-ups so she's obviously able to sprint.

“I would have been disappointed if she didn't run like that today because we were starting to wonder what was her trip. She's all speed.

“She's well-bred, cost a few quid, so it's great to get a bracket for her. We'll see if she can keep going up the grades now.”

This was Murtagh's 11th winner since June 12th.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson