Cheap filly looks the business for Martin

County Wexford trainer Willie Martin can end a long losing spell and enhance his reputation for making the best of cheap raw material when saddling four-year-old filly Rolanna in an apprentice handicap (6.35) at Down Royal.

Enniscorthy-based Martin is perhaps best known for his handling of six-time all-weather winner Farmleigh House who failed to sell for just €450 before joining him in 2O10. He enjoyed his most recent success when €300 Goresbridge purchase Mystical Past won a maiden at Dundalk early last year.

Rolanna, a daughter of Strategic Prince, is another bargain-basement type having cost €1,000 at Goffs in February. Martin sent her to Chepstow in May for her first run for the stable, a venture which yielded an encouraging third placing. Since then she has had three runs on home territory, including a blip at Fairyhouse in June, when she jinked and unseated her rider when racing prominently well before halfway.