Murtagh steals the show

Johnny Murtagh stole the show on the opening day of the flat season with a 879/1 treble, including the twin features, the Group 3 for fillies and mares and the Irish Lincolnshire at The Curragh.

Ardbrae Lady, runner-up to Nightime in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, ran out a deserving victor of the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes.

She hasn't won very often (one from 18, before today, much of that in the best of company though), but nobody has ever questioned her attitude and she was always holding on after leading around a furlong out.

Winning trainer Joe Murphy also trained Gemini Gold, who made the pace until the quarter mile pole.  Gamble of this heat, La Conquistadora (9/2 in the morning into 9/4 favourite), finished fourth.

As was the case in 2006, the Ladbrokes.com Irish Lincolnshire saw an eight length winning margin, as Deauville Vision sluiced up by that margin under Murtagh for Michael Halford.

Getting to the front a furlong and a half down, the Danehill Dancer filly was soon ridden to quicken clear, and she was eased inside the final furlong for a very easy win. It was for Ger Lyons that the three-timer was completed, Little White Lie beating Out Of The Red by 3L in the 3yo handicap.

Lambourn trainer, Brendan Duke, who landed a double with Zafonical Storm and Openide at Tipperary towards the backend of last term, struck again with Sammy The Snake in the opener.

Despite unshipping Davy Moran before the race, the Diktat colt showed a willing attitude to out battle Scupio.  Moran also partnered Zafonical Storm for the Dubliner to win the Listed El Gran Senor Stakes.

Martin Lane and Frances Crowley caused a shock in the following 3yo maiden, the first-time daughter of Spinning World, Once Upon A Grace (E55.20 on tote) beating off some fancied opponents at odds of 20/1.

Harry Rogers would have been glad to see the back of the 2006 season but the first day of the 2007 campaign began more brightly with Fit The Cove and Willie Supple narrowly taking the sprint h'cap.

Alazari was the one for money this morning for the closing maiden but despite proving easier to back on track, he still got the job done under Michael Kinane for John Oxx.