Ladies Church stepped forward nicely from her debut run to open her account at Tipperary this afternoon.

The Johnny Murtagh-trained filly had been fourth first time up at Cork and the easy-to-back 8/1 shot was dropped back a furlong tonight to the minimum trip in the opening fillies maiden.

Ben Coen 's mount pressed front-running favourite Orinoco River for much of the race before hitting the front passing the furlong pole.

The daughter of Churchill kept on well in the closing stages to record a three-parts-of-a-length win over the 4/7 hotpot.

Coen said afterwards:- "We always liked her and she came on an awful lot from the first day, I think she'll be better again when she steps up to six (furlongs) again.

“She was good and straightforward, she jumped and travelled and quickened up well.

"She idled a bit when she got to the front but she is nice. Her form was good and we always liked her from day one so hopefully she can build on that again."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)