THE punters got it right in the opening Listed Langleys Solicitors Marygate Fillies’ Stakes for two-year-olds when the 4/1 joint-favourites Main Desire and Neola fought out the finish, the latter getting up by half a length. It meant jockey Danny Tudhope was on the mark on all three days.

“She looked a natural from day one,’’ said winning trainer Michael Bell. “She won on the bit at Nottingham and today was the first time she really had to dig in.

“The Queen Mary at Royal Ascot is inked in and why wouldn’t it be because I think she’s the best,’’

Mick Channon’s Neola ran fast all the way on the opposite wing and will surely go one better before long, while Mistress Of Venice kept on best of the rest.

TOMYRIS BEST

Although there seemed no great advantage to the draw in the opener, the jockeys wanted to come up the stands’ side in the one-mile Longines Irish Champions Weekend Fillies’ Stakes, another listed contest honouring the late Michael Seely, a pressroom stalwart.

Sibilance swung for home in the lead, challenged by marginal favourite Dancing Breeze.

However, they both started to feel the pinch two furlongs out and it was Roger Varian’s Tomyris who gained the upper hand as On Her Toes and Ryan Moore made their move between horses.

Keeping on really well for Andrea Atzeni, Tomyris was three-quarters of a length to the good at the line with the others well held.

Already proven on much quicker ground, Tomyris, a daughter of Invincible Spirit, looks well worth her entry in the Coronation Stakes.

TEXTBOOK MULRENNAN

Local trainer Jedd O’Keefe ended with a 20/1 winner on Thursday and followed up with 12/1 chance Lord Yeats in the Betway Jervik Handicap over a mile and a half.

Jockey Paul Mulrennan produced a textbook front-running ride, winding up the pace under the stands’ rails and coming home well clear of Burguillos and warm favourite Gibbs Hill.

Later on Friday’s card , trainer Mick Appleby sent out Hells Babe to win the seven-furlong fillies’ handicap.

Appleby has gained a fine reputation for improving horses from other yards.

This daughter of Helvellyn has now won twice since joining Appleby from Jonjo O’Neill’s stables.

David O’Meara saddled his third winner of the Dante meeting when Coolfitch took the five-furlong handicap for three-year-olds. Josh Doyle’s mount was sent off at 16/1 but the daughter of Roderic O’Connor (by Galileo) won comfortably.

The meeting closed with an impressive victory by Godolphin’s Alqamar in the 12-furlong handicap for three-year-olds.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Dubawi colt was taking a big step up in trip on this, his seasonal debut, and raced clear under William Buick for a wide-margin win at the unusual odds of 14/5.