THE initial plans for Laughifuwant mightn’t have come to pass but he has more than rewarded the faith of Gerry Keane since then and bagged his second major pot in as many seasons in the Paddy Power Irish Cambridgeshire where the trainer’s son Colin was utterly masterful aboard the five-year-old.

In the formative stages of his life, Laughifuwant was bought as a prospective breeze-up horse but when that didn’t work out, this Esther Keane and Sandra Cumiskey-owned gelding had his attentions transferred to the track.

Just over a year ago he landed the hugely valuable Ahonoora Handicap at the Galway Festival and this five-year-old once again showed what a quality performer he is on his favoured soft ground as he won this well-contested affair off a mark of 100.

On this occasion Colin Keane elected to eschew his mount’s usual front-running tactics and from some way out Laughifuwant could be picked out travelling strongly in midfield.

Over the last three furlongs, the 14/1 chance scythed through the pack to get into contention and he sustained his effort inside the last furlong to get past the Sheila Lavery-trained duo of Quizical and Breaking Story to carry the day by three-parts of a length.

“He’s a good horse on soft ground. Earlier in the season we couldn’t get a run into him and we had to go straight to Galway without a run but he came on a good bit from that run. I’d say he’ll go to Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend for the Sovereign Path Handicap,” said Keane.

“Colin wasn’t sure about the trip as his two wins were over seven furlongs so he changed tactics completely. He’s been a great horse for a yard like ours.”

Another smaller yard to strike a blow was that of Johnny Feane who followed up the first stakes victory of his career last weekend by sending out Tresorier (7/2) to land the Walls To Workstations Handicap over six furlongs.

Almost four years after recording the only previous victory of his career, the capable six-year-old built on a good run behind Geological at Dundalk to scramble home by a head from Beckwith Place.

Gavin Ryan was on board this Dundalk Bay Sea Foods Limited-owned gelding who could now tackle the Sovereign Path Handicap at Leopardstown in a fortnight.

Gavin Ryan promptly followed up aboard the Tom Mullins-trained Star Image (17/2) in the Paddy Power-sponsored seven-furlong nursery. This daughter of Sea The Stars, who is owned by the trainer’s wife Helen, had shown distinct promise on her first three outings and she took a step forward with a determined effort that saw her edge out the favourite Omakase by a head.

Star Image may take up her Moyglare Stud Stakes entry next month.

Nights thunders home for Group 3 win

A RECENT conditions race success at Leopardstown suggested that Thundering Nights was ready to make her mark at stakes level and Joseph O’Brien’s charge did so in style in the Group 3 Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes to book her place on Irish Champions Weekend.

Shane Crosse was on board this talented daughter of Night Of Thunder, who carries the colours of Shapoor Mistry, and Thundering Nights travelled through this race with some ease.

The three-year-old still looked to be full of running when improving to dispute the lead with well over a furlong to run and she picked up in the style of a high-class sort to hand out a one-and-a-half-lengths beating to last year’s Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna.

Although beaten, the latter did run well on her first start since finishing sixth in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

Afterwards the winning trainer indicated that the Group 2 Blandford Stakes in just over two weeks would be next for the 7/2 second favourite.

“She’s an improving filly. She is getting bigger and stronger all the time and she loves that ground,” reflected the winning trainer’s assistant Brendan Powell.

“Shane said she is so relaxed in her races you never know how well she is travelling. She is just a lovely filly with a really good attitude.”

Huge upset

In a season of upsets there was another huge one in the offing in the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes as New Treasure struck at 66/1 for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning.

Just six days after Mac Swiney shocked a number of high-profile rivals in the Futurity the trainer and rider pulled off an even bigger surprise with this son of New Approach who was stepping up markedly on the form of his debut seventh in a seven-furlong maiden here earlier in the month.

Some 12 years after his dam, Maoineach, made a winning debut in this race the Jackie Bolger-owned New Treasure did this in fine style.

He travelled strongly and then knuckled down really well under pressure inside the last furlong to hold off the promising maiden winner Teresa Mendoza by half a length.

“Things just didn’t work out for him on his first run but we were confident he could run a big race. Kevin was pleased with him and he coped with the ground,” stated the trainer’s daughter Una.

The last Curragh meeting before Champions Weekend concluded with a victory for Kerry-based trainer Ian O’Connor as Ramiro (17/2) landed the TRM-sponsored seven-furlong handicap under Scott McCullagh who was riding his first winner on Irish soil for just under three years. The winner was making his first appearance for the trainer.