Marise has McCourt awaiting summer

Marise served notice that her turn wouldn't be long delayed when third at Dundalk before Christmas, and she duly delivered on start two in the Ladbrokes (Fillies) Maiden at the Dowdallshill venue tonight.

Connor King took over from Colin Keane on Tom McCourt's Azamour filly here, with the latter on Bairns At Bay the favourite, for his boss, Ger Lyons.

Bairns At Bay for a time looked good from the front, but the eye was drawn to Maira travelling well at the two furlong pole.

That one is still a maiden now though, after five starts, and she couldn't match Marise close home, half a length separating them at the line.

"She'll improve off that again as we'd given her a break after her first run," stated McCourt.

"She's a big filly and she'll improve plenty. I think she could turn into a decent sort over the summer, and she wants top of the ground. She's got a real good action and I'd say she'll get a bit further." (AM & EM)