Melanippe a very easy winner of the last

Melanippe ran out a very easy winner of the last at Dundalk, the Marshes Shopping Centre Ladies Day Saturday 12th July Handicap, scoring under Chris Hayes for Paul Deegan.

The four-year-old daughter of Shirocco won two in-a-row last summer, scoring at Tramore and Fairyhouse, and she was placed four times on her subsequent eight starts.

After finishing seventh over the course and distance on her seasonal debut last month, the bay filly was sent off at 8/1 this evening having opened at 10/1 on-course.

Having raced in second behind the clear leader Brostigh Ort she improved to lead three furlongs out as they entered the straight.

She soon went clear, keeping on strongly when ridden, before being eased down inside the final furlong, scoring by six and a half lengths at the line. Whatever It Takes was backed from 11/2 to 4/1 favourite on-course and he finished back in second under Fran Berry for Niall Madden, while Armed Guard (10/1) was a further two length back in third under Joseph O’Brien for Eddie Lynam.

Paul Deegan said afterwards: "Chris said that he maybe had been riding her a bit the wrong way the last couple of times.

"He just decided to be very aggressive on her and he just nicked it on the bend. She winged around the bend and was gone.

"I thought she might have one more win in her but I thought it would be around somewhere like Tramore or Wexford."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson