NICOLA Burns has been showcasing her talents on Deuteronomy in recent weeks, and the Co Westmeath teenager broke new ground by registering a first double on this seven-race programme.
The teenage apprentice struck first on Magnetic North (12/1) in the Gain The Advantage Series Handicap, with this admirable 10-year-old registering a 13th win on his second start for Peter Fahey.
Settled in second and hassling the front-running Out On Friday from the get-go, the 63-rated chesnut improved to the front with less than three furlongs to go. While ridden and tackled by the well-supported Positive Energy (7/4 favourite from 3s early) entering the straight, he fought off that rival inside the final furlong and powered to a three-and-three-quarter-length success.
“He is a fun horse and was bought out of England by my nephew Shane Crabbe,” Fahey disclosed.
“My sister Majella (Crabbe) owns him and Nicola rode a lot of pony-racing winners for Shane, so this is a great result.”
The stewards later enquired into an early incident and subsequently found Sean Davis guilty of improper riding on Allo Al Khawaneej, suspending him for seven days.
Burns going places
Burns was again seen to good effect on Heather (11/4), the only three-year-old in the line-up for the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap. A sister to 2018 Irish Derby hero Latrobe, the Ger Lyons-trained bay tracked the leaders and slightly bumped Elana Osario (5/2 favourite) on the turn for home.
Getting to the front inside the final 200 yards, the Catherine Magnier-owned victor ultimately found plenty for pressure, holding off the effort of the market leader by a head.
“Nicola is in with us every day and rings me first thing every morning to open the gate,” assistant trainer Shane Lyons revealed.
“She is very polite and is everything you want in a kid going places.
“This filly wants good or better ground and what she has is loads of heart. She’ll get further and to get blacktype would be great.”
WHILE the betting suggested that The Lodge At Ashford Castle Maiden was a two-horse race, the Denis Hogan-trained Autumn Twist ultimately upstaged his better fancied rivals.
Tracking the front-running Molto Amichi (8/11 favourite) in a close second, the Katie and Brian Castle-owned victor was pushed along to challenge approaching the straight.
On terms from the furlong pole, the easy-to-back 16/1 chance (from 11/2 early), edged to the front inside the final 150 yards and prevailed by half a length, with the aforementioned market leader settling for the runner-up berth.
“The ground is easy-good at the moment, which he loved, it was very straightforward, and it suited to be up with the pace,” winning rider Joey Sheridan reported.
“He’s a nice horse for hurdles too.”
Successful Senior
Hogan was later out of luck in the Treacy’s Pharmacy Handicap, with his front-running Expound finishing fourth to the Pat Magee-trained Si Senior (11/1).
Despite a slow start, the Roisin McIntyre-owned victor made good progress on the outer from the three-furlong pole.
Running a bit wide off the bend approaching the straight, the Bungle Inthejungle bay was soon pushed along to lead, and she kept on well in the closing stages to score by three-quarters of a length under Julian Pietropaolo.
“Things have to fall her way, they went fast and she just picked them off,” Magee remarked.
“We thought the handicapper was very harsh by giving her 6lb for finishing second two starts ago, but it is what it is, and we’re obviously delighted with today.”
THERE was a thrilling conclusion to the Bay Leaf Handicap, with Mark McNiff’s Curroy Lady (2/1) benefiting from a well-judged Colin Keane ride.
Owned by the Tubercurry-based Big Five MS Syndicate, the 49-rated bay was patiently ridden and improved into third when pushed along approaching the straight.
Ridden and gaining a narrow lead inside the final 150 yards, she kept on well from there and prevailed by half a length, with the fast-finishing Glenroyal dead-heating for second with stable companion Magnolia Drive.
“I’d say the rain this evening helped a lot, as it made stamina count more,” McNiff explained. “She has jumped a couple of hundred hurdles already and her dam won over them, so she has options going forward.”
Breakthrough
In the colours of Go Racing Limited, Nobler also won by just half a length in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Making the breakthrough in first-time blinkers, the Joseph O’Brien-trained three-time runner-up certainly wasn’t winning out of turn, as he made all under Dylan Browne McMonagle.
Skipping three lengths clear on the approach to the straight, the 8/13 chance saw his advantage eroded inside the final furlong, ultimately holding off the admirable effort of debutant Ulysses Rose.
“On paper, he was the best horse in the race, so I kept it simple and he was only doing what he needed to in front,” the winning rider reflected.
Leading Lady
The John O’Donoghue-trained Lady Plimsoll was another to justify favouritism, with this easy-to-back 9/4 chance (from 13/8), leading home seven rivals in the opening JFC Group Apprentice Claiming Race.
Awkward from the stalls under Rory Mulligan, the Pierce Molony-owned bay was fifth at halfway, making good headway into second on the approach to the straight.
Taking over at the head of affairs inside the final 200 yards, she kept on well and held off the late surge of I Do Believe by three-quarters of a length, with the front-running Sugar Club third.
“I had finished second on her previously, she is a nice filly and, while I’d say this is her ideal trip, she could go further,” Mulligan divulged.
The winner was later claimed by Michael O’Callaghan for €15,000, while I Do Believe (€6,000) and Sugar Club (€8,000) were picked up by Ian Donoghue and Paul Gilligan respectively.