Bate shooting for the stars for Tullymurry Skies

Delighted owner Colin Bate insists Tullymurry Skies has 'excelled herself' following a stunning rise up the grades at Monmore Green.

Beautiful black girl Skies, who only turned two last month, has managed to go from winning an A10 on June 6 to triumphing in an A3 last Saturday night - that victory also making it three successes on the spin.

The Brian Thompson-trained raider now boasts an overall record of 10 wins from 25 runs.

Colin Bate, a long-term supporter of Monmore, owns Skies along with his wife Joanne and daughter Kayleigh, and he said: "She's now won in every grade from A10 to A3, got three in a row and even won five of her last seven runs.

"Skies was pretty cheap, so we've been very pleasantly surprised with her.

"When we bought her, we also had her brother Tullymurry Earl, but in trials he had a habit of fighting after the winning line so to be fair to the other dogs, we decided to retire him.

"We thought Skies would be hovering around A7 or A8, but she's excelled herself.

"She's had four different attempts at making it three wins in a row, and she finally managed to do it this past weekend. We're very proud of her."

Tullymurry Skies ran again on Thursday night at Monmore, finishing fifth in an A3 won by Kim Billingham-Hine's Hard Copy.

Bate added on Skies' personality: "She's a bit crazy! Taking her for a walk at Brian's kennels is a bit of a challenge, she's jumping up on her back legs and really excitable.

"When she's running a race and the hare drops off at the trip, she's so keen to get the rabbit.

"She's got early pace and is as genuine as they come. She's been brilliant."